Comstock Holding Companies, Inc. - Annual Report: 2005 (Form 10-K)
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005
Commission file number 1-32375
Comstock Homebuilding Companies, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
|
20-1164345 | |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
11465 Sunset Hills Road
Suite 510 Reston, Virginia 20190
(703) 883-1700
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of principal executive offices)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the
Act:
None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Act:
Class A common stock, par value $.01 per share
(Title of Class)
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known
seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities
Act. Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file
reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Act. Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed
all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding
12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to file such reports), and (2) has been
subject to such filing requirements for the past
90 days. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers
pursuant to Item 405 of
Regulation S-K is
not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of
registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this
Form 10-K or any
amendment to this
Form 10-K. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large
accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated
filer. See definition of accelerated filer and large
accelerated filer in
Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act. (check one) Large Accelerated
filer o Accelerated
filer þ Non-accelerated
filer o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company
(as defined in
Rule 12b-2 of The
Act). Yes o No þ
The aggregate market value of voting and non-voting common
equity held by nonaffiliates of the registrant
( shares)
based on the last reported sale price of the registrants
common equity on the Nasdaq National Market on June 30,
2005, which was the last business day of the registrants
most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was $24.22. For
purposes of this computation, all officers, directors, and 10%
beneficial owners of the registrant are deemed to be affiliates.
Such determination should not be deemed to be an admission that
such officers, directors, or 10% beneficial owners are, in fact,
affiliates of the registrant.
As of March 15, 2006, there were outstanding
11,260,642 shares of the registrants Class A
common stock, par value $.01 per share, and
2,733,500 shares of the registrants Class B
common stock, par value $.01 per share.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the registrants definitive Proxy Statement for
the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by
reference into Part III of this
Form 10-K.
COMSTOCK HOMEBUILDING COMPANIES, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT ON
FORM 10-K
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2005
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
Item 1. | Business |
Overview
We are a residential real estate developer that has substantial
experience building a diverse range of for-sale products
including single-family homes, townhouses, mid- and high-rise
condominiums and mixed-use developments in suburban communities
and high density urban infill areas. We focus on geographic
areas, products and price points where we believe there is
significant demand for new housing and potential for above
average returns. We currently operate in the
Washington, D.C., Raleigh, North Carolina and Atlanta,
Georgia markets where we target a diverse range of buyers,
including first-time, early move-up, secondary move-up, empty
nester move-down and active adult home buyers. We believe that
these buyers represent a significant and stable segment of the
home buyers in our markets. Since our founding in 1985, we have
built and delivered over 3,000 homes valued at over
$800.0 million.
Over the past several years we have successfully expanded our
business model to include the development of land for our home
building operations as a complement to the purchasing of
finished building lots developed by others. Over the past
several years, our markets have generally been characterized by
strong population and economic growth trends that have led to
strong demand for housing. In addition, we have recently
expanded into the development, redevelopment and construction of
residential mid- and high-rise condominium complexes in our core
market of the Washington, D.C. area. We believe that these
markets provide attractive long-term growth opportunities.
We were incorporated in Delaware in May 2004. Our business was
started in 1985 by Christopher Clemente, our current Chief
Executive Officer, as a residential land developer and home
builder focused on the upscale home market in the northern
Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. Prior to our initial
public offering in December 2004, we operated our business
through four primary holding companies. In connection with our
initial public offering, these primary holding companies were
consolidated and ultimately merged into Comstock Homebuilding
Companies, Inc. Our principal executive offices are located at
11465 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 510, Reston, Virginia 20190,
and our telephone number is
(703) 883-1700.
Our Web site is www.comstockhomebuilding.com. References
to Comstock, we, our and
us refer to Comstock Homebuilding Companies, Inc.
together in each case with our subsidiaries and any predecessor
entities unless the context suggests otherwise.
Recent Developments
In January 2006, we acquired Parker Chandler Homes, Inc., or
Parker Chandler, a private homebuilder with operations in the
Atlanta, Georgia, Charlotte, North Carolina and Myrtle Beach,
South Carolina metropolitan areas.
Our Markets
As of December 31, 2005, we operated in the
Washington, D.C. and Raleigh, North Carolina markets. We
believe that the new home markets in Washington, D.C. and
Raleigh, North Carolina are characterized by consistent demand
and a limited supply of available housing. Based on our
experience, we believe that in the home building industry, local
economic trends and influences have a more significant impact on
supply and demand, and therefore on profitability, than national
economic trends and influences. According to the National
Association of Home Builders, the Washington, D.C. and
Raleigh, North Carolina metropolitan areas are each ranked in
the top 25 housing markets in the country based upon
single-family residential building permits issued in 2005 and
the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area is ranked in the top
10 housing markets in the country based upon multi-family
building permits issued in 2005.
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Greater Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Market |
Our current and anticipated projects for the
Washington, D.C. market are in Arlington, Culpeper,
Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William and Stafford counties
in Virginia, and Anne Arundel, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery,
Prince Georges counties in Maryland and in the District of
Columbia. Since our inception, the Washington, D.C.
metropolitan area has experienced strong population and economic
growth. The strength of this employment market coupled with the
stability and resilience of the local economy is primarily due
to the size and diversity of the federal government workforce.
The presence of the federal government historically has served
as a cushion for the local economy against downturns in the
private sector. Recently, the Washington, D.C. market has been
characterized by strong demand due to population growth, low
unemployment rates and a concentration of white-collar,
high-income jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
in 2004 the professional and business services sector employed
about 21.5% of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan workforce.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce found that in 2004, the
Washington, D.C. market enjoyed the second highest median
household income among metropolitan areas within the United
States 63% above the national median household
income.
Raleigh, North Carolina Market |
Our current and anticipated projects for the Raleigh, North
Carolina market are in Durham, Franklin, Johnston and Wake
counties, which includes the city of Raleigh. From 1990 to 2000,
the Raleigh, North Carolina market was the 12th fastest
growing metropolitan area in the United States and was the
second fastest growing area in the Southeast in terms of
population growth, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The
area experienced growth of 38.9% during that period, according
to the U.S. Census Bureau. Similar to the
Washington, D.C. market, the local economy in the Raleigh,
North Carolina market is generally stable and less sensitive to
national economic trends because of large public sector
employment. Raleigh is the state capital of North Carolina.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state and local
governments constitute 19.1% of the areas aggregate
employment in 2005. The area is home to Research Triangle Park,
a public/private, planned research park containing over nine
million square feet of office space, and the headquarters of
multiple technology and research companies. Duke University, the
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and North Carolina
State University are also located in the Raleigh, North Carolina
market. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the
Raleigh, North Carolina market ranked 40th among 361
metropolitan areas in 2003 in terms of per capita income, or
106.8% of the national per capita income.
Our Competitive Strengths
We believe we possess the following competitive strengths:
Committed and experienced management. We have been
developing land and building for-sale residential housing since
1985 under the leadership of our current Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer. Our current President and Chief Operating
Officer joined us in 1991. Many of our senior executives and
managers have extensive experience in the home building industry
with some having over 30 years of experience and most of
our senior executives having been with us for at least five
years.
Public company status. As a publicly traded company we
enjoy many competitive advantages over our privately held peer
group. In particular, it is our belief that as a public company
our access to capital affords us a pricing advantage when
competing for the types of land opportunities we feel are most
consistent with our primary target market segments. In addition,
or public company status enhances our existing brand recognition
and engenders confidence in our prospective buyers.
Attractive land position. At December 31, 2005, we
owned or controlled over 4,200 lots in our markets including our
backlog. In our business we define lots as individually saleable
housing units. We believe that restrictions on the development
of new lots in our markets have increased, and will continue to
increase, the market value of our land position. Our land
planning, processing and development expertise allows us to
acquire land positions in various stages of the entitlement
process, which we believe provides us greater
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opportunities than many of our competitors. We intend to
continue to utilize our land acquisition and development process
to further develop an attractive land inventory.
Creative approach to land acquisition and development. We
have developed a specialized, selective approach to land
acquisition and development, focused on maximizing the value of
each parcel. We have extensive knowledge regarding all aspects
of the site selection, land planning, entitlement and
development processes relative to all types of new home
developments, from suburban single-family homes, townhouses and
low-rise condominiums to high-rise, mixed-use urban condominium
developments. We have significant experience in dealing with the
governmental and regulatory authorities that govern the site
development and entitlement processes. We leverage this
knowledge and experience to manage development risk and create
more value from the land that we acquire. Our knowledge and
experience also allow us to be active in the development of
urban mixed-use projects, which puts us in the position of
acquiring and developing parcels of land that many of our
competitors are not able to pursue.
Broad customer base and a diversified product mix. By
offering a wide variety of affordably-priced products in
distinctly different types of locations we serve a broad
customer base including first-time, early move-up, secondary
move-up, empty nester move-down and active adult home buyers.
First-time and early
move-up home buyers
make up a significant percentage of home buyers. The ownership
of a home is a high priority for a large percentage of the
population in the United States. In addition, we believe the
large baby boom population in the United States is
aging and is increasing demand for secondary move-up, empty
nester move-down and active adult new homes. Active adult refers
to age-restricted developments that require at least one of the
primary owners of the homes in the development to be at least
55 years old. As the baby boom generation ages, we believe
that housing developments focused on this segment of the
population will garner a larger share of the market. Our
products range from traditional single-family homes, townhouses
and low-rise condominiums designed for suburban settings, to
contemporary townhouses and high-rise condominiums designed for
urban settings, and highly amenitized buildings targeting the
active adult home buyer. This product mix allows us to diversify
our risks in fluctuating market conditions by ensuring that we
are positioned to attract a broad segment of the home buying
population. We design all of our products to be attractively
priced and value oriented.
Superior quality control and customer service. We strive
to provide a high level of customer service during the sales and
construction process as well as after a Comstock home is sold.
Our sales representatives,
on-site construction
supervisors and post-closing customer service personnel work as
a team in an attempt to ensure a high level of customer
satisfaction. Our sales staff receives extensive training in
understanding the needs of the customer and assisting them in
the selection of a Comstock home and mortgage program that meets
their requirements. As part of our commitment to quality
assurance, each Comstock home is subject to a series of 25
stringent construction quality inspections covering virtually
every aspect of the construction process. Our customer service
personnel are trained to promptly and thoroughly address any
concerns that our customers may have and also provide our home
buyers with home maintenance training and advice. We believe
this high level of attention to quality assurance in the
construction process and focus on our customers
post-closing experience has earned Comstock a reputation for
delivering high-quality products and excellent customer service.
We believe this ultimately leads to enhanced customer
satisfaction and additional sales through referrals.
Our Growth Strategy
Our business strategy is to focus on geographic areas, products
and price points where we believe there is a significant demand
for new housing and high profit potential. Our strategy has the
following key elements:
Build in and expand with the strong growth markets within the
Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions. We believe there are
significant opportunities for growth in our existing markets. We
plan to maintain our business in Washington, D.C. and
Raleigh, North Carolina and expand into Atlanta, Georgia to
capitalize on the robust economies and continued population
growth of these areas. We expect the growth in these markets to
continue. We plan to utilize our strong regional presence and
our extensive experience in these markets to expand our
operations in both markets through acquisition of additional
land, and we may acquire local home
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builders whose operations would complement ours and enhance our
competitive position in the marketplace. We intend to continue
to expand into selected new geographic markets in the
Mid-Atlantic and Southeast United States through acquisitions of
other home builders that have strategic land positions, strong
local management teams and sound operating principles. We expect
to target new markets that have favorable demographic and
economic trends where we believe we will be able to achieve
sufficient scale to successfully implement our business
strategy. We are currently evaluating several expansion
opportunities.
Acquire and develop a land inventory with potential for
above-average margins or returns. We believe that our market
knowledge and experience in land entitlement and development
enable us to successfully identify attractive land acquisition
opportunities, efficiently manage the process of obtaining
development rights and maximize land value. We have the
expertise to acquire land positions in various stages of the
entitlement and development process, which we believe provides
us more opportunities to build land inventory than many of our
competitors. We intend to continue to utilize our land
acquisition and development process to further develop an
attractive land inventory. As a complement to our development
strategy, we will continue to grow our land inventory through
acquisition of finished lots from other developers. We believe
our network of relationships and broad recognition in our core
markets gives us an advantage over some of our competitors in
acquiring finished lots. In addition, since we can often acquire
options on large numbers of finished lots with minimal deposits,
this strategy allows us to cost-effectively control significant
land positions with reduced risk. As such, we intend to continue
to option land positions whenever possible.
Create opportunities in areas overlooked by our
competitors. We believe there is a significant market
opportunity for well-designed, quality homes and condominiums in
urban and suburban areas in close proximity to transportation
facilities. Local governments in our markets, especially the
Washington, D.C. market, have modified zoning codes in
response to mounting traffic concerns to allow for high-density
residential development near transportation improvements. In our
experience, buyers place a premium on new homes in developments
within these areas. We believe that our townhouse and
condominium products, along with our substantial experience in
dealing with both the market and regulatory requirements of
urban mixed-use developments, enable us to identify and create
value in land parcels often overlooked by larger production home
builders. As a result, we believe we can achieve better returns
on our products than larger production home builders who are
only focused on volume. We plan to continue to focus on
developing and creating these opportunities within our core
markets.
Focus on a broad segment of the home buying market. Our
single-family homes, townhouses and condominiums are designed
and priced to appeal to a wide segment of the home buying
market. We serve a broad customer base including first-time,
early move-up, secondary move-up, empty nester move-down and
active adult home buyers. We believe first-time and early
move-up home buyers are
a significant portion of home buyers and have in the past, we
believe, been more resistant to market downturns. We believe
that the aging of the American population makes it more likely
that a significant percentage of the population will continue to
be attracted to secondary move-up, empty nester move-down and
active adult products as well. We expect our diversified product
offerings to position us to benefit from the projected
population growth in our core markets and provide a degree of
protection against market fluctuations.
Expand into the growing active adult market. Many
localities are adopting zoning rules that encourage construction
of mixed-use and active adult developments. We expect the large
and aging baby boom population in the United States to fuel
growth in the active adult market of the home building industry.
As the baby boom generation ages, we anticipate that housing
developments focused on this population will capture a larger
share of the market. We believe this growing segment of the
population will also likely be attracted to the urban
convenience and activities available in upscale urban active
adult developments. Active adult developments are often favored
by local governments because they increase the tax base while
requiring fewer government-funded services and infrastructure,
such as schools and summer programs, as compared to traditional
developments that attract families. We believe that we are well
positioned to take advantage of this growing demand.
Maximize our economies of scale. We apply a production
home builder approach to all of our product categories. In many
instances, we utilize plans we have built numerous times which
allows us to minimize cost
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through value engineering resulting from previous field
experience. We are also able to coordinate labor and material
purchasing under bulk contracts thereby reducing unit costs. As
a result, we are able to realize economies of scale in the
purchase of raw materials, supplies, manufactured inputs and
labor. As we expand, we will seek to maximize these benefits
through purchasing arrangements with national and regional
vendors.
Our Operations
We integrate the process of building a home by carefully
controlling each phase of the process from land acquisition to
the construction, marketing and sale of a home. During every
stage of the process we manage risk and focus on products,
geographic areas and price points that maximize our revenue and
profit opportunities.
Land Identification and Acquisition |
We believe that by controlling and managing a significant
portion of our land inventory we are better able to manage our
growth in accordance with our business plan.
We acquire land for our home building operations both as
finished building lots and as raw land that we develop. We
primarily acquire land that has vested development rights. Often
we contract to purchase land from land developers that will
maintain ownership of the land through the entitlement process.
Similarly we often will contract to purchase finished building
lots from land developers that will maintain ownership of the
land through the land development process. When we purchase land
in this manner we typically will provide our home building
expertise to the seller in order to ensure the land is developed
in a manner consistent with our plans for the project. By
contracting to purchase land that is owned by the land developer
during the entitlement and development process we minimize the
risks associated with seeking entitlements and performing land
development.
We also buy land that we develop into building lots ourselves.
We generally buy undeveloped land when we are developing
high-density projects because the product design is often
integrated into the site development operations. We also buy
land that we develop into traditional building lots when we
believe the additional risk associated with developing the land
is manageable and the return on investment will likely be
enhanced. We routinely purchase these sites after the
development rights have been secured, which eliminates or
substantially reduces risks associated with seeking entitlements.
We have also engaged in the business of converting existing
rental apartment properties to for-sale condominium projects.
This process involves the purchase of existing structures which
may be new and never occupied or may be occupied by tenants with
leases of varying duration. When we purchase these properties we
subdivide the units and form a condominium association. In these
projects we will usually invest capital in the improvement of
the common areas and exteriors. If the properties are occupied,
then as the tenants leases expire we will renovate the
interiors of the apartments and then sell each apartment as an
individual condominium unit. These conversion projects typically
produce lower profit margins than our standard real estate
development projects. However, since they take significantly
less time to complete than our real estate development projects,
they tend to generate higher returns on invested capital. We
expect to continue to acquire condominium conversion and similar
projects to the extent quality opportunities present themselves.
Our land acquisition and development process is managed by our
executive land committee that includes representatives from our
various business departments. This committee meets regularly to
evaluate prospective land acquisitions and evaluates several
factors that could affect the outcome of a project under
consideration. These factors include:
| supply and absorption rates of similar new home projects; | |
| supply and absorption rates of existing homes in the area; | |
| projected equity requirements; | |
| projected return on invested capital; | |
| status of land development entitlements; | |
| projected net margins of homes to be sold by us; |
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| projected absorption rates; | |
| demographics, school districts, transportation facilities and other locational factors; and | |
| competitive market positioning. |
We focus on opportunities that we believe have the potential to
generate revenue on home sales as well as appreciation in land
value through the application of our expertise. Many of the
sites we select may be overlooked by large, national competitors
due to the complexity of zoning and entitlement issues or other
development characteristics of the site. Our acquisition due
diligence process involves a high level of scrutiny which
includes a variety of analyses, including land title
examination, applicable zoning evaluations, environmental
analysis, soil analysis, utility availability studies, and
marketing studies that review population and employment trends,
school districts, access to regional transportation facilities,
prospective home buyer profiles, sales forecasts, projected
construction costs, labor and material availability, assessment
of political risks and other factors.
Land Entitlement and Development |
We manage development opportunities and risks through our
entitlement process.
We have extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of the
site selection, land planning, entitlement and land development
processes. Specifically, we have significant experience in
dealing with the governmental and regulatory authorities that
govern the site selection, development and zoning processes.
Entitlement is the process by which a local government
determines the density it will permit to be developed on a
particular property. Entitlements and development permits are
often obtained through negotiations with local governmental
authorities. This process often involves consultation with
various parties, including the local homeowner associations,
federal governmental agencies and environmental protection
groups. Infrastructure improvements, such as sewers, roads,
utilities and transportation improvements are often required to
be built in connection with the development of a parcel of land.
Our experience and knowledge allow us to effectively negotiate
with all concerned parties in an attempt to ensure the costs of
the improvements associated with obtaining entitlements are
commensurate with the development potential of the subject
property. We can quickly assess the likely approvals on a
particular property in the early stages of our due diligence
process. As a result, we can control the details of development,
from the design of each community entryway to the placement of
streets, utilities and amenities, in order to efficiently design
a development that we expect will improve our ability to
maximize the potential return on our investment in the property.
We seek to manage development risk by acquiring options to
purchase properties after the approval of the necessary
entitlements, while assuming control of their entitlement
process, thereby deferring acquisition of the property until all
necessary entitlements are obtained.
At times, we may sell lots and parcels within our developments
to other home builders. This enables us to create a more
well-rounded community. As of December 31, 2005, we
controlled over 4,200 building lots in our market. With respect
to our inventory, we strive to own approximately 50% of the
building lots and controlled the balance of the building lots
through option or deferred settlement contracts. Accordingly, we
are able to reduce the risk associated with ownership of the
land in our inventory. We expect to expand our inventory of
building lots through additional acquisitions of finished
building lots and development sites.
Sales, Marketing and Production |
We have a wide variety of product lines and custom options for
our products that enable us to meet the specific needs of each
of our markets and each of our home buyers. We believe that our
diversified product strategy enables us to best serve a wide
range of home buyers and adapt quickly to changing market
conditions. We continually reevaluate and improve upon our
existing product designs and develop new product offerings to
keep up with changing consumer demands and emerging market
trends.
Our single-family homes range in size from approximately
2,000 square feet to over 6,000 square feet with
target pricing from the $200,000s to the $900,000s. Our
townhouses range in size from approximately 1,200 square
feet to over 4,500 square feet and are typically priced
from the $200,000s to the $600,000s.
8
Unlike many of our traditional home building competitors, we
also design, sell and build mid-rise and high-rise condominiums.
We believe that our condominium products are particularly
well-suited to the high-density, infill and active adult home
buyer market. Our condominiums range in size from approximately
400 square feet to over 2,400 square feet and are
priced from the $100,000s to the $800,000s. Our average new
order price overall product types, for the year ended
December 31, 2004 was $369,000 and $359,000 for the year
ended December 31, 2005.
We typically act as the general contractor in the construction
of our single-family homes, townhouses and mid-rise condominium
buildings. On projects where we offer these product lines our
employees provide land development management, construction
management, material purchasing and quality control supervision
on the homes we build. Substantially all construction work on
these types of projects is done by subcontractors that contract
directly with us and with whom we typically have an established
relationship. On our high-rise and mixed-use developments where
we typically build concrete structures, we engage a general
contractor for the site preparation and construction management,
and typically we have a fixed price or a gross maximum price
contract with the selected bonded general contractor. In these
instances the subcontractors that perform the construction work
are typically contracted directly with the general contractor
that we select. On projects where we offer these product lines
our employees provide land development oversight management,
construction quality supervision and construction management
services. In all instances we follow generally accepted
management procedures and construction techniques which are
consistent with local market practices. We believe that we
comply with local and state building codes on all of our
developments.
We seek to obtain favorable purchasing arrangements with our
vendors and subcontractors using our leverage as a production
home builder. We typically enter into forward contracts with our
vendors for the construction materials used in building our
homes. This process allows us to manage the pricing risk
associated with fluctuating prices for the materials, such as
lumber. We do not have long-term contracts with our
subcontractors but in general we have contracts that fix the
price of work being provided on homes that have been sold.
We primarily build our single-family homes after contracts are
signed and mortgage approval has been obtained by the home
buyer. We generally begin construction of our townhouses and
condominiums after we have obtained customer commitments for a
significant percentage of the units in the building. Depending
on the market conditions and the specific community, we may also
build speculative homes. Most of these homes are sold while
under construction or are used as model homes during the
marketing phase of the project. We closely monitor our inventory
of speculative units applying a measured approach to unit
production in keeping with sales absorption. On occasion we will
sell a completed model home to a third party investor purchaser
who is willing to lease back the home to us for use during the
marketing phase of a project.
To facilitate the sale of our products, we normally build,
decorate, furnish and landscape model homes for each product
line and maintain onsite sales offices. In most cases, we employ
in-house commissioned sales personnel to sell our homes. On
occasion we will contract for marketing services with a third
party brokerage firm. All personnel engaged in the sale of
Comstock homes receive extensive training in the sales process.
We strive to provide a high level of customer service during the
sales process. Through relationships that we have created with
our preferred mortgage lenders and utilization of a proprietary
custom marketing program, we are able to help our customers
prepare for home ownership and obtain a mortgage tailored to
their specific needs.
Our
NextHometm
programs are designed to assist our customers in many aspects of
purchasing a Comstock home, as follows:
| DownRighttm a program designed to help identify ways to meet the down payment requirements of a new home purchase; | |
| Tailor Madetm a program with unique financing products and agreements with major lenders that tailor a monthly payment in order to make home ownership affordable in any interest rate climate; | |
| Get It Soldtm a program designed to help our customers sell their current home quickly and efficiently in order to facilitate their purchase of a new Comstock home; |
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| All@Hometm a program enabling our customers to design technology solutions for their new Comstock home to meet their individual specifications; | |
| Built Righttm a quality assurance program incorporating quality assurance inspections with high-quality materials; and | |
| Home Styletm an optional upgrade program providing hundreds of options to choose from to customize a new Comstock home to suit the specific desires of our customers. |
All personnel involved in the sale of our homes receive
extensive training on the product they are selling. In addition,
our sales professionals are trained on the specialized programs
offered by us in connection with the purchasing, customizing and
financing of a Comstock home and the warranty we provide. We
employ in-house commissioned sales personnel to sell our homes.
We employ our sales personnel on a long-term basis, rather than
a project-by-project basis, which we believe results in a more
committed and motivated sales force with better product
knowledge. We believe that this has a positive impact on sales
and conversion.
Division managers are responsible for developing marketing
objectives, sales strategies, and advertising and public
relations programs for their assigned communities. These
objectives, strategies and home pricing decisions are subject to
approval by senior management. We typically build, decorate,
furnish and landscape model homes for each product line and
maintain onsite sales offices, which are open seven days a week.
We believe that model homes play a critical role in our
marketing efforts.
Our homes are typically sold before or during construction
through sales contracts that are accompanied by a cash deposit.
Such sales contracts are usually subject to certain
contingencies such as the home buyers ability to qualify
for financing. Cancellation rates are subject to a variety of
factors beyond our control such as adverse economic conditions
and increases in mortgage interest rates.
In late 2005 we began design and build-out on an innovative and
unique sales center located in Reston, Virginia. Unlike the
typical builder design center, this facility is designed to
support cross-product and cross-community shopping in one
central location. In the Comstock Sales Center, slated to open
in April 2006, prospects will be able to see multiple Comstock
home sites, arrange for financing and shop for options all in
one location. While this location will not replace
on-site models, it will
provide a permanent location where projects can be previewed and
prospects can be introduced to the Comstock experience.
Our Communities
We currently have communities under development in Arlington,
Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties in Virginia. In
Maryland we are currently active in Frederick County. In North
Carolina we have
10
active communities in Wake County. The following chart
summarizes certain information for our current and planned
communities at December 31, 2005:
As of December 31, 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lots | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
under | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Estimated | Lots | Option | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Units at | Units | Owned | Agreement | Average | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Project | Status(1) | Completion | Settled | Backlog(2) | Unsold | Unsold | Sales Price | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Virginia
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Barrington Park
|
Active | 148 | | 2 | 146 | | $ | 279,900 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Commons at Bellemeade
|
Active | 316 | 21 | 8 | 287 | | $ | 211,096 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Blooms Mill TH 22
|
Active | 113 | 83 | 3 | 27 | | $ | 421,875 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Blooms Mill Carriage
|
Active | 91 | 75 | 10 | 6 | | $ | 453,926 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Commons on Potomac Sq
|
Active | 192 | | 19 | 173 | | $ | 233,708 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Commons on Williams Sq
|
Active | 180 | 56 | 12 | 112 | | $ | 356,269 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Countryside
|
Active | 102 | 53 | 5 | 44 | | $ | 288,471 | |||||||||||||||||||||
The Eclipse on Center Park
|
Active | 465 | | 390 | 75 | | $ | 399,723 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Penderbrook
|
Active | 424 | 180 | 3 | 241 | | $ | 251,893 | |||||||||||||||||||||
River Club at Belmont Bay 5
|
Active | 84 | 70 | 3 | 11 | | $ | 461,451 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Woodlands at Round Hill
|
Active | 46 | 17 | 8 | 21 | | $ | 747,921 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total VA Active and Completed
|
2,161 | 555 | 463 | 1,143 | | $ | 373,294 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total VA Active and Completed Weighted Avg(3)
|
$ | 324,560 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aldie Singles
|
Development | 15 | | | | 15 | n/a | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Blakes Crossing
|
Development | 130 | | | 130 | | n/a | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Brandy Station
|
Development | 350 | | | | 350 | n/a | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Commons on The Park
|
Development | 258 | | | | 258 | n/a | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Lake Pelham
|
Development | 185 | | | | 185 | n/a | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Loudoun Station Condominiums
|
Development | 484 | | | | 484 | n/a | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Beacon Park at Belmont Bay
|
Development | 600 | | | | 600 | n/a | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total VA Development
|
2,022 | | | 130 | 1,892 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Virginia
|
4,183 | 555 | 463 | 1,273 | 1,892 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Maryland
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Emerald Farm
|
Active | 84 | 67 | 3 | 14 | | $ | 447,291 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total Maryland
|
84 | 67 | 3 | 14 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
North Carolina
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Allyns Landing
|
Active | 117 | 12 | 3 | 102 | | $ | 212,685 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Beckett Crossing
|
Completed | 115 | 115 | | | | $ | 315,024 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Delta Rdge II Townhomes
|
Completed | 41 | 41 | | | | $ | 173,906 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Kelton at Preston
|
Active | 56 | 28 | 2 | 26 | | $ | 307,536 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wakefield Plantation
|
Active | 77 | 31 | 3 | 43 | | $ | 474,955 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total North Carolina Active
|
406 | 227 | 8 | 171 | | $ | 296,821 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total North Carolina Active
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weighted Average(3)
|
$ | 300,580 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Holland Road
|
Development | 81 | | | | 81 | n/a | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total North Carolina Development
|
81 | | | | 81 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total North Carolina
|
487 | 227 | 8 | 171 | 81 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
TOTAL ACTIVE AND COMPLETED
|
2,651 | 849 | 474 | 1,328 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
TOTAL DEVELOPMENT
|
2,103 | | | 130 | 1,973 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
TOTAL
|
4,754 | 849 | 474 | 1,458 | 1,973 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Joint Ventures
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North Shore Condominiums
|
Active | 196 | | 7 | 189 | | $ | 286,361 | |||||||||||||||||||||
North Shore Townhomes
|
Active | 163 | 33 | 7 | 123 | | $ | 239,107 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total Joint Ventures
|
359 | 33 | 14 | 312 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
GRAND TOTAL
|
5,113 | 882 | 488 | 1,770 | 1,973 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
11
Key for purposes of this chart:
(1) | Active communities are open for sales. Development communities are in the development process and have not yet opened for sales. |
(2) | Backlog means we have an executed order with a buyer, inclusive of lot sales, but the settlement has not yet taken place. |
(3) | Weighted average is calculated as total estimated homes at completion for projects with average sales prices multiplied by average sales price divided by total of estimated homes at completion (i.e.: S (estimated homes at completion × average sales price) ÷ S estimated homes at completion). |
Virginia |
Barrington Park is a
148-unit mid-rise,
walk-up, garden style condominium development in Manassas Park,
Virginia. We completed the acquisition of the land in late 2005.
The project opened for sales in late 2005 with settlements
expected to begin in late 2006 and continue into 2008.
Commons at Bellemeade is a
316-unit condominium
conversion located in Leesburg, Virginia. We acquired the
property in September 2005 and immediately began the process of
sub-dividing the units into condominiums. We have begun the
process of renovating the common areas and the unit interiors.
We opened the project for sales to existing tenants in October
2005 and to the general public in November 2005. The project
began settling units in late 2005 and is expected to continue
settling units into 2007.
Blooms Mill is a
377-unit development in
Manassas, Virginia. This development offered a mix of
single-family homes, attached carriage homes and townhouses. The
development offers amenities that include a community club,
swimming pool and family friendly street plan all in
a traditional village setting. At December 31, 2005, the
single family homes were sold out and delivered. This project is
expected to continue settling townhouses and carriage homes into
the first half of 2006 and be completed by the end of 2006.
Commons on Potomac Square is a
192-unit mid-rise
condominium complex in Loudoun County, Virginia. The complex
will consist of up to four buildings. The project is positioned
for first-time homeowners and is intended to offer significant
appeal to renters in the market seeking to move up to home
ownership. Sales opened in late 2004 with the first settlements
expected in 2006 and the balance of the settlements expected in
late 2006 or 2007.
Commons on William Square is a
180-unit two-over-two
townhouse condominium development in Prince William County,
Virginia. The project was originally designed to accommodate a
mid-size apartment complex. Based on our understanding of zoning
and our creative approach to land use, our land development
group redesigned the project to maximize available density using
a unique, stacked townhouse product. Sales opened in the fourth
quarter of 2004 and settlements began in the second half of 2005
and will continue throughout 2006 and into 2007.
Countryside is a
102-unit apartment
complex in Sterling, Virginia that we are converting to
condominiums. We acquired the property in March 2005. We have
completed improvements to the common areas and exteriors of the
buildings. Sales opened during the third quarter of 2005 with
settlements beginning in the fourth quarter 2005 and continuing
throughout 2006.
The Eclipse on Center Park is a
465-unit high-rise
condominium complex in Arlington County, Virginia. Located at
Potomac Yard, just minutes from downtown Washington, D.C.,
the Pentagon and Reagan National Airport, the Eclipse is
designed as an upscale, urban-style mixed-use complex with
residential condominiums being built above an 80,000 square
foot retail complex that will host a grocery store and other
convenience oriented retailers. Upper floors will have views of
the Potomac River and the monuments in Washington, D.C.
Sales for Phase I opened in the second quarter of 2004.
Sales for Phase II are planned for February 2006.
Settlements are projected to begin in the second half of 2006
continuing into the first half of 2007.
12
Penderbrook Square is a
424-unit rental
apartment complex which we are converting to condominiums in the
Fair Oaks area of Fairfax County, Virginia. We acquired the
property in February 2005. We are making a significant
investment in renovations at this project including common
areas, building exteriors and units heating systems. Sales
opened in April 2005 with settlements beginning in June 2005 and
continuing throughout 2006 and 2007.
River Club at Belmont Bay 5 is a three-building,
84-unit condominium
development located at the convergence of the Potomac and
Occoquan Rivers at Belmont Bay in Woodbridge, Virginia. The
project has an 18-hole golf course, full-service marina and a
Virginia Rail Express commuter train station on site. The
project consists of three
28-unit upscale
mid-rise concrete condominium buildings with open rooftop decks
overlooking the water and the golf course. Settlements began in
2005 and will continue throughout 2006 and possibly into 2007.
Woodlands at Round Hill is located in western Loudoun
County, Virginia, one of the fastest growing counties in the
United States. This large lot single-family home development had
65 lots of three or more acres each. We are acting as the
developer of the site, and we are currently building road and
utility infrastructure for the home sites. This project opened
for sales in 2004. Settlements began in early 2005 and will
continue into 2007. In September 2005, we sold 19 lots to
another homebuilder.
Aldie Singles is currently a
15-unit in development
in Aldie, Virginia. The community was planned to have 15 single
family homes on 3 acre and above home sites. At
December 31, 2004 the project was under contract. The
project is expected to be ready to open for sales in 2007 with
settlements expected to begin in late 2007.
Blakes Crossing is a parcel we own in Culpeper, Virginia
designed for 130-unit
townhouses. We are currently evaluating the possibility of
selling the parcel for commercial development. If retained, the
project is scheduled to open for sales in late 2008 or early
2009.
Brandy Station is a
350-unit single-family
home development in Culpeper, Virginia. The project is currently
under contract while we manage it through the entitlement
process. We will close on the property when approvals have been
received. We expect to open for sales in 2007.
Commons on the Park (formerly Carter Lake) is a
258-unit condominium
conversion project in Reston, Virginia. At September 30,
2005 the project was under contract. We settled on the project
in January 2006 with sales to commence in the second quarter of
2006 and settlements to commence in the second half of 2006
continuing in late 2007 or early 2008.
Lake Pelham is a single family home community in
Culpeper, Virginia. We are acting as the land developer and
homebuilder for the community. We expect to settle on the land
in 2006 with sales opening in late 2006. Settlements are
projected to commence in 2007 and continue through 2009.
Loudoun Station Condominiums is a being planned as an up
to 484 unit mid-rise condominium complex located in
Ashburn, Virginia. The project is part of a high-density,
transit-oriented, mixed-use development which is modeled after
the successful Reston Town Center in Reston, Virginia. When
completed, Loudoun Station will be at the terminus of the
planned Metro extension past Washington Dulles International
Airport and will have an approximately 1,500 for-sale and rental
residential units. Loudoun Station will also have over one
million square feet of retail and commercial space. Sales of our
condominiums are expected to begin in early 2007.
Beacon Park at Belmont Bay is planned as a
600-unit active adult
condominium community located at the convergence of the Potomac
and Occoquan Rivers at Belmont Bay in Woodbridge, Virginia. This
development is designed as a combination of nine- and five-story
buildings with open rooftop decks overlooking the water and golf
course. The project will be deed-restricted such that one of the
buyers for each unit must be 55 years of age or older and
will include active adult lifestyle amenities, such as a health
and wellness center, a business center, guest accommodations and
swimming pools. Sales are expected to begin in 2006 and continue
through 2009.
13
Maryland |
Emerald Farm is an
84-unit development of
single-family homes in Frederick, Maryland. The development is
conveniently located near major transportation routes.
Frederick, Maryland recently abated a water moratorium that had
shut down development in the area. Since the abatement, the
demand for new housing in Frederick is extremely strong. The
project has been open for sales since 2000 and is expected to be
completed in late 2006 or early 2007.
North Carolina |
Allyns Landing is a
117-unit townhouse
development located in the heart of Raleigh, North Carolina near
Research Triangle Park and the Raleigh-Durham International
Airport. The project overlooks an eight-acre lake and includes
amenities such as a fountain, gazebo, walking trails and canoe
rack. The project is currently open for sales and is delivering
homes. Deliveries are expected to continue into 2008.
Beckett Crossing is a
115-unit development
located in Apex, North Carolina consisting of single-family
homes situated on large wooded lots. The project is sold out and
has delivered all homes.
Delta Ridge II is a
41-unit townhouse
development located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The development
is close to Research Triangle Park and the trails of Umstead
State Park. The project is sold out and has delivered all homes.
Kelton at Preston is a
56-unit upscale
townhouse development in the prestigious Kelton golf course
community of Cary, North Carolina. This community has three
18-hole courses, a swimming complex and a clubhouse with
fitness, tennis and dining facilities. Many of our home sites
have golf course views. This project is currently open for sales
and is delivering homes. Deliveries are expected to continue
into 2008.
Wakefield Plantation is a
77-unit development in
Raleigh, North Carolina consisting of townhouses and carriage
homes. Our unique carriage homes at Wakefield are attached homes
with as much as 5,300 square feet of finished living space
in three-and four-unit configurations with two-car garages and
interior court yards. Many of the homes are lakefront and with
golf course views. Home buyers at Wakefield qualify for social
membership in the Wakefield Country Club, which offers amenities
such as fine dining, swimming pools, tennis and golf. This
project is currently open for sales and is delivering homes.
Deliveries are expected to continue into late 2007 or early 2008.
Holland Road is a
81-unit development in
Raleigh, North Carolina which is expected to close in April
2006. The project will offer single family homes and is
scheduled to open for sales in 2006 with deliveries beginning in
late 2006.
North Shore is a unique community located on the
Centennial Campus of North Carolina State University. It
consists of 163 townhouses and 196 mid-rise condominium units.
The mid-rise condominium residences are five-story elevator
buildings with structured garage parking. The townhouse
residences feature four finished levels, private garages, a rear
deck and a rooftop terrace. Designed as an urban-style
neighborhood with rear alleys, North Shore, which is minutes
from downtown Raleigh and Research Triangle Park, is situated on
the shore of Lake Raleigh. This project is currently open for
sales. This project is owned through a 50/50 joint venture with
Raleigh Property Group II, LLC and as such is reported
through the equity method and excluded from our home building
revenue and backlog. (See Note 7 of notes to our
consolidated and combined financial statements as of
December 31, 2005).
Warranty
We provide our single-family and townhouse home buyers with a
one-year limited warranty covering workmanship and materials.
The limited warranty is transferable to subsequent buyers not
under direct contract with us and requires that home buyers
agree to the definitions and procedures set forth in the
warranty. Our condominium home buyers typically have a statutory
two-year warranty on their purchases. In addition, we provide a
five-year structural warranty pursuant to statutory
requirements. From time to time, we
14
assess the appropriateness of our warranty reserves and adjust
future accruals as necessary. When deemed appropriate by us, we
will accrue additional warranty reserves. We self-insure all of
our warranties.
Competition
The real estate development and home building industries are
highly competitive and fragmented. Competitive overbuilding in
local markets, among other competitive factors, could materially
adversely affect home builders in those markets. Home builders
compete for financing, raw materials and skilled labor, as well
as for the sale of homes. Additionally, competition for prime
properties is intense and the acquisition of such properties may
become more expensive in the future to the extent demand and
competition increase. We compete with other local, regional and
national real estate companies and home builders. Some of our
competitors have greater financial, marketing, sales and other
resources than we have.
The principal competition we faced in each of our markets, as of
December 31, 2005, was as follows:
| Washington, D.C. In the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan market we compete against approximately 15 to 20 publicly-traded national home builders, approximately 10 to 15 privately-owned regional home builders, and many local home builders, some of whom are very small and may build as few as five to 25 homes per year. | |
| Raleigh, North Carolina. In the Raleigh, North Carolina market we compete against approximately 10 to 15 publicly-traded national home builders, approximately 10 to 15 privately-owned regional home builders, and a large number of small, local home builders. |
We do not compete against all of the builders in our geographic
markets in all of our product types or submarkets, as some
builders focus on particular types of projects within those
markets, such as large estate homes, that are not in competition
with our communities. We believe the factors that home buyers
consider in deciding whether to purchase from us include the
location, value and design of our products. We believe that we
typically build attractive, innovative products in sought-after
locations that are perceived as good values by customers.
Accordingly, we believe that we compare favorably on these
factors.
Regulation
We and our competitors are subject to various local, state and
federal statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations concerning
zoning, building design, construction and similar matters,
including local regulation, which imposes restrictive zoning and
density requirements in order to limit the number of homes that
can ultimately be built within the boundaries of a particular
project. We and our competitors may also be subject to periodic
delays or may be precluded entirely from developing in certain
communities due to building moratoriums or
slow-growth or no-growth initiatives
that could be implemented in the future in the states in which
we operate. Local and state governments also have broad
discretion regarding the imposition of development fees for
projects in their jurisdiction.
We and our competitors are also subject to a variety of local,
state and federal statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations
concerning protection of the environment. Some of the laws to
which we and our properties are subject may impose requirements
concerning development in waters of the United States, including
wetlands, the closure of water supply wells, management of
asbestos-containing materials, exposure to radon, and similar
issues. The particular environmental laws that apply to any
given community vary greatly according to the community site,
the sites environmental conditions and the present and
former uses of the site. These environmental laws may result in
delays, may cause us and our competitors to incur substantial
compliance and other costs, and may prohibit or severely
restrict development in certain environmentally sensitive
regions or areas. However, environmental laws have not, to date,
had a material adverse impact on our operations.
We also compete with resale of existing homes and condominiums
and available rental housing.
15
Technology
We are committed to the use of Internet-based technology for
managing our business and communicating with our customers. For
customer relationship management, we use Builders
Co-Pilottm,
a management information system that was custom developed in
accordance with our needs and requirements. This system allows
us to integrate our field and office operations as well as to
track the progress of construction on each of our projects. In
addition, this system allows online and collaborative efforts
between our sales and marketing functions. We believe real-time
access to our construction progress and our sales and marketing
data and documents through our systems increases the
effectiveness of our sales and marketing efforts as well as
managements ability to monitor our business. Through our
Web site, www.comstockhomebuilding.com, our prospects
receive automatic electronic communications from us on a regular
basis. We believe this application of technology has greatly
enhanced our conversion rates.
In February 2006 we contracted to license JD Edwards software
from Oracle to manage our accounting and purchasing. We expect
the conversion to the JD Edwards software to be completed during
2006.
Intellectual Property and Other Proprietary Rights
We rely primarily on a combination of copyright, trade secret
and trademark laws to protect our proprietary rights. We do not
own the Comstock brand or trademark. Christopher
Clemente owns the Comstock brand and trademark and
has licensed them to us under a perpetual, royalty-free license
agreement. We have filed a U.S. federal trademark
application with respect to Comstock Homes Worthy of the
Investment and we will file a U.S. federal trademark
application with respect to Comstock Homebuilding
Companies. We believe the strength of these trademarks
benefits our business.
Employees
At December 31, 2005, we had approximately
130 full-time and part-time employees. Our employees are
not represented by any collective bargaining agreement and we
have never experienced a work stoppage. We believe we have good
relations with our employees.
Executive Officers
Our executive officers and other management employees and their
respective ages and positions as of December 31, 2005 are
as follows:
Name | Age | Position | ||||
Christopher Clemente*
|
45 | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | ||||
Gregory V. Benson*
|
51 | President, Chief Operating Officer and Director | ||||
Bruce J. Labovitz*
|
37 | Chief Financial Officer | ||||
William P. Bensten
|
58 | Senior Vice President | ||||
Jason Parikh*
|
34 | Chief Accounting Officer | ||||
David D. Howell
|
55 | Vice President Market Development | ||||
Jubal R. Thompson
|
36 | General Counsel and Secretary |
* | Section 16 officers. |
Executive Officers and Key Employees
Christopher Clemente founded Comstock in 1985 and has
been director since May 2004. Since 1992, Mr. Clemente has
served as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Clemente has over 20 years of experience in all
aspects of real estate development and home building, and
25 years of experience as an entrepreneur.
Gregory V. Benson joined us in 1991 as President and
Chief Operating Officer and has been director since May 2004.
Mr. Benson is also a member of our board of directors.
Mr. Benson has over 30 years of home
16
building experience including over 13 years at national
home builders, including NVHomes, Ryan Homes and Centex Homes.
Bruce J. Labovitz has served as our Chief Financial
Officer since January 2004, after serving as our Vice
President Finance from April 2002 to January 2004
and Vice President Investment Finance from January
2002 to April 2002. From June 2001 to January 2002,
Mr. Labovitz was a Vice President of Viking Communications,
a telecommunications company. From November 2000 to June 2001,
Mr. Labovitz was the President, Marketing &
Services of Inlec Communications, a telecommunications company.
Prior to that, from May 1996 to November 2000, Mr. Labovitz
was Executive Vice President/ Chief Operating Officer of BMK
Advertising, an advertising agency.
William P. Bensten has served as our Senior Vice
President since November 2004 and as our Vice
President Business Development from December 2003 to
November 2004, after serving as our Vice President
Land Acquisition from 1995 to 2003. During 1997 and 1998
Mr. Bensten served as our division manager of our Raleigh,
North Carolina division and was responsible for opening the
division. Mr. Bensten has over 30 years of experience
in the home building industry, including serving in various
positions with Centex Homes, a national home builder, and
Charter Communities.
Jason Parikh has served as our Chief Accounting Officer
since April 2004. Mr. Parikh was Chief Financial Officer
and Secretary of On-Site Sourcing, Inc. from May 2000 to April
2004 and Controller from July 1997 to May 2000. From July 1994
until July 1997, Mr. Parikh was Controller of Shirt
Explosion Inc., a clothing manufacturer.
David D. Howell has served as our Vice
President Market Development since August 2004.
Prior to that, from July 2000 to July 2004, Mr. Howell
served as Vice President Comstock Homes of
Washington. From 1995 to March 2000, Mr. Howell was a
Division President with M/ I Homes, Inc., a national home
builder. Prior to that Mr. Howell spent several years as
division manager at Ryan Homes.
Jubal R. Thompson has served as our General Counsel since
October 1998 and our Secretary as of December 2004. From April
2002 to April 2003, Mr. Thompson also served as our Vice
President Finance. From 1995 to 1998,
Mr. Thompson was associated with Robert Weed &
Associates, PLLC, a law firm.
Other Information
We file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy
statements, and other documents with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (the Exchange Act). The public may read and
copy any materials that we file with the SEC at the SECs
Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC
20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the
Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330. Also,
the SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports,
proxy and information statements, and other information
regarding issuers, including us, that file electronically with
the SEC. The public can obtain any documents that we file with
the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
We also make available, free of charge, at our Internet website
located at www.comstockhomebuilding.com, our annual
reports on
Form 10-K, our
proxy statements, our quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q, and our
current reports on
Form 8-K as well
as Form 3, Form 4, and Form 5 Reports for our
directors, officers, and principal stockholders, together with
amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to
Section 13(a), 15(d), or 16 under the Exchange Act. These
reports are available as soon as reasonably practicable after
their electronic filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
CAUTIONARY NOTES REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the statements contained in this report include
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can
be identified by the use of words such as
anticipate, believe,
estimate, may, intend,
expect, will, should,
seeks or other similar expressions. Forward-looking
statements are based largely on our expectations and involve
inherent risks and uncertainties including certain risks
described
17
in this report. When considering those forward-looking
statements, you should keep in mind the risks, uncertainties and
other cautionary statements made in this report. You should not
place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement, which
speaks only as of the date made. Some factors which may affect
the accuracy of the forward-looking statements apply generally
to the real estate industry, while other factors apply directly
to us. Any number of important factors which could cause actual
results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements include, without limitation: general economic and
market conditions, including interest rate levels; our ability
to service our substantial debt; inherent risks in investment in
real estate; our ability to compete in the markets in which we
operate; regulatory actions; fluctuations in operating results;
our anticipated growth strategies; shortages and increased costs
of labor or building materials; the availability and cost of
land in desirable areas; natural disasters; our ability to raise
debt and equity capital and grow our operations on a profitable
basis; and our continuing relationships with affiliates.
Many of these factors are beyond our control. For a discussion
of factors that could cause actual results to differ, please see
the discussion in this report under the heading Risk
Factors in Item 1A.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Risks Relating to Our Business
We engage in construction and real estate activities which are speculative and involve a high degree of risk. |
The home building industry is speculative and is significantly
affected by changes in economic and other conditions, such as:
| employment levels; | |
| availability of financing; | |
| interest rates; and | |
| consumer confidence. |
These factors can negatively affect the demand for and pricing
of our homes and our margin on sale. We are also subject to a
number of risks, many of which are beyond our control, including:
| delays in construction schedules; | |
| cost overruns; | |
| changes in governmental regulations (such as slow- or no-growth initiatives); | |
| increases in real estate taxes and other local government fees; | |
| labor strikes; | |
| transportation costs for delivery of materials; and | |
| increases and/or shortages in raw materials and labor costs. |
Fluctuations in market conditions may affect our ability to sell our land and home inventories at expected prices, if at all, which could adversely affect our revenues, earnings and cash flows. |
We are subject to the potential for significant fluctuations in
the market value of our land and home inventories. We must
constantly locate and acquire new tracts of undeveloped and
developed land to support our home building operations. There is
a lag between the time we acquire control of undeveloped land or
developed home sites and the time that we can bring the
communities built on that land to market and deliver our homes.
This lag time varies from site to site as it is impossible to
determine in advance the length of time it will take to obtain
governmental approvals and building permits. The risk of owning
undeveloped land, developed land and homes can be substantial.
The market value of undeveloped land, buildable lots and housing
inventories can fluctuate significantly as a result of changing
economic and market conditions.
18
Inventory carrying costs can be significant and can result in
losses in a poorly performing development or market. Material
write-downs of the estimated value of our land and home
inventories could occur if market conditions deteriorate or if
we purchase land or build home inventories at higher prices
during stronger economic periods and the value of those land or
home inventories subsequently declines during weaker economic
periods. We could also be forced to sell homes, land or lots for
prices that generate lower profit than we anticipate, or at a
loss, and may not be able to dispose of an investment in a
timely manner when we find dispositions advantageous or
necessary. Furthermore, a decline in the market value of our
land or home inventories may give rise to a breach of financial
covenants contained in one or more of our credit facilities,
which could cause a default under those credit facilities.
Home prices and sales activities in the Washington, D.C. and Raleigh, North Carolina geographic markets have a large impact on our profitability because we conduct substantially all of our business in these markets. |
Home prices and sales activities in the Washington, D.C.
and Raleigh, North Carolina geographic markets have a large
impact on our profitability because we conduct substantially all
of our business in these markets. Recently these markets have
begun to exhibit signs of decreasing consumer demand. Although
demand in these geographic areas historically has been strong,
increased rates of home price appreciation may reduce the
likelihood of consumers seeking to purchase new homes which
would likely have a negative impact on the pace at which we
receive orders for new homes. This could adversely affect our
results of operations and cash flows.
Because our business depends on the acquisition of new land, the potential limitations on the supply of land could reduce our revenues or negatively impact our results of operations and cash flows. |
Due to increased demand for new homes, we have experienced an
increase in competition for available land and developed home
sites in the Washington, D.C. and Raleigh, North Carolina
markets. In these markets, we have experienced competition for
home sites from other, sometimes better capitalized, home
builders. In the Raleigh, North Carolina market, we have
recently experienced competition from large, national home
builders entering the market. Our ability to continue our home
building activities over the long term depends upon our ability
to locate and acquire suitable parcels of land or developed home
sites to support our home building operations. As competition
for land increases, the cost of acquiring it may rise, and the
availability of suitable parcels at acceptable prices may
decline. The increased cost of land requires us to increase the
prices of our homes. This increased pricing could reduce demand
for our homes and, consequently, reduce the number of homes we
sell and lead to a decrease in our revenues, earnings and cash
flows.
Our business is subject to governmental regulations that may delay, increase the cost of, prohibit or severely restrict our development and home building projects and reduce our revenues and cash flows. |
We are subject to extensive and complex laws and regulations
that affect the land development and home building process,
including laws and regulations related to zoning, permitted land
uses, levels of density (number of dwelling units per acre),
building design, access to water and other utilities, water and
waste disposal and use of open spaces. In addition, we and our
subcontractors are subject to laws and regulations relating to
worker health and safety. We also are subject to a variety of
local, state and federal laws and regulations concerning the
protection of health and the environment. In some of our
markets, we are required to pay environmental impact fees, use
energy saving construction materials and give commitments to
provide certain infrastructure such as roads and sewage systems.
We must also obtain permits and approvals from local authorities
to complete residential development or home construction. The
laws and regulations under which we and our subcontractors
operate, and our and their obligations to comply with them, may
result in delays in construction and development, cause us to
incur substantial compliance and other increased costs, and
prohibit or severely restrict development and home building
activity in certain areas in which we operate. If we are unable
to continue to develop communities and build and deliver homes
as a result of these restrictions or if our compliance costs
increase substantially, our revenues, earnings and cash flows
may be reduced.
19
Cities and counties in which we operate have adopted, or may adopt, slow or no-growth initiatives that would reduce our ability to build and sell homes in these areas and could adversely affect our revenues, earnings and cash flows. |
From time to time, certain cities and counties in which we
operate have approved, and others in which we operate may
approve, various slow-growth or
no-growth initiatives and other similar ballot
measures. Such initiatives restrict development within
localities by, for example, limiting the number of building
permits available in a given year. Approval of slow- or
no-growth measures could reduce our ability to acquire land,
obtain building permits and build and sell homes in the affected
markets and could create additional costs and administration
requirements, which in turn could have an adverse effect on our
revenues, earnings and cash flows.
Increased regulation in the housing industry increases the time
required to obtain the necessary approvals to begin construction
and has prolonged the time between the initial acquisition of
land or land options and the commencement and completion of
construction. These delays increase our costs, decrease our
profitability and increase the risks associated with the land
inventories we maintain.
Municipalities may restrict or place moratoriums on the
availability of utilities, such as water and sewer taps. If
municipalities in which we operate take actions like these, it
could have an adverse effect on our business by causing delays,
increasing our costs or limiting our ability to build in those
municipalities. This, in turn, could reduce the number of homes
we sell and decrease our revenues, earnings and cash flows.
Our ability to sell homes, and, accordingly, our results of operations, will be affected by the availability of financing to potential home buyers. |
Most home buyers finance their purchases through third-party
mortgage financing. Real estate demand is generally adversely
affected by:
| increases in interest rates and/or related fees; | |
| increases in real estate transaction closing costs; | |
| decreases in the availability of mortgage financing; | |
| increasing housing costs; | |
| unemployment; and | |
| changes in federally sponsored financing programs. |
Increases in interest rates or decreases in the availability of
mortgage financing could depress the market for new homes
because of the increased monthly mortgage costs or the
unavailability of financing to potential home buyers. Even if
potential home buyers do not need financing, increases in
interest rates and decreased mortgage availability could make it
harder for them to sell their homes. This could adversely affect
our operating results and financial condition.
The competitive conditions in the home building industry could increase our costs, reduce our revenues and earnings and otherwise adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows. |
The home building industry is highly competitive and fragmented.
We compete in each of our markets with a number of national,
regional and local builders for customers, undeveloped land and
home sites, raw materials and labor. For example, in the
Washington, D.C. market, we compete against approximately
15 to 20 publicly-traded national home builders, approximately
10 to 15 privately-owned regional home builders, and many local
home builders, some of whom are very small and may build as few
as five to 25 homes per year. We do not compete against all of
the builders in our geographic markets in all of our product
types or submarkets, as some builders focus on particular types
of projects within those markets, such as large estate homes,
that are not in competition with our projects.
20
We compete primarily on the basis of price, location, design,
quality, service and reputation. Some of our competitors have
greater financial resources, more established market positions
and better opportunities for land and home site acquisitions
than we do and have lower costs of capital, labor and material
than us. The competitive conditions in the home building
industry could, among other things:
| make it difficult for us to acquire suitable land or home sites in desirable locations at acceptable prices and terms, which could adversely affect our ability to build homes; | |
| require us to increase selling commissions and other incentives, which could reduce our profit margins; | |
| result in delays in construction if we experience delays in procuring materials or hiring trades people or laborers; | |
| result in lower sales volume and revenues; and | |
| increase our costs and reduce our earnings. |
We also compete with resales of existing homes and condominiums
and available rental housing. An oversupply of competitively
priced resale or rental homes in our markets could adversely
affect our ability to sell homes profitably.
Our business is concentrated in a few geographic areas which increases our exposure to localized risks. |
We currently develop and sell homes principally in the
Washington, D.C. and Raleigh, North Carolina. Our limited
geographic diversity means that adverse general economic,
weather or other conditions in either of these markets could
adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows or our
ability to grow our business.
Our growth strategy to expand into new geographic areas poses risks. |
We may expand our business into new geographic areas outside of
the Washington, D.C. and Raleigh, North Carolina markets.
We will face additional risks if we develop communities in
geographic areas or climates in which we do not have experience
or if we develop a different size or style of community than
those currently being developed, including:
| adjusting our construction methods to different geographies and climates; | |
| obtaining the necessary construction materials and labor in sufficient amounts and on acceptable terms; | |
| obtaining necessary entitlements and permits under unfamiliar regulatory regimes; | |
| attracting potential customers in a market in which we do not have significant experience; and | |
| the cost of hiring new employees and increased infrastructure costs. |
We may not be able to successfully manage the risks of such an
expansion, which could have a material adverse effect on our
revenues, earnings, cash flows and financial condition.
We may not be able to successfully identify, complete or integrate acquisitions. |
As part of our business strategy, we expect to continue to
review acquisition prospects in our existing markets and in new
markets in the Mid-Atlantic region or elsewhere that would
complement our existing business, or that might otherwise offer
growth opportunities. The identification, underwriting and
negotiation of such deals is an ongoing process. We are
currently engaged in either discussions, negotiation or due
diligence with several other homebuilders but we have not yet
entered into any binding obligations to acquire any of those
operations. To the extent we complete acquisitions, we may be
unable to realize the anticipated
21
benefits because of operational factors or difficulties in
integrating the acquisitions with our existing business.
Acquisitions entail numerous risks, including, but not limited
to:
| difficulties in assimilating acquired management and operations; | |
| risks associated with investing the necessary resources in order to achieve profitability; | |
| the incurrence of significant due diligence expenses relating to acquisitions that are not completed; | |
| unforeseen expenses and liabilities; | |
| risks associated with entering new markets or sub-markets in which we have limited or no prior experience; | |
| the diversion of our managements attention from our current business; | |
| the potential loss of key employees, including senior executives, of acquired organizations; and | |
| risks associated with transferred assets and liabilities. |
We may not be able to acquire or manage profitably additional
businesses, or to integrate successfully any acquired
businesses, properties or personnel into our business, without
substantial costs, delays or other operational or financial
difficulties. Our failure to do so could have a material adverse
effect on our business, financial condition, results of
operations and cash flows.
We are dependent on the services of certain key employees and the loss of their services could harm our business. |
Our success largely depends on the continuing services of
certain key employees, including our Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, Christopher Clemente, Gregory Benson, our
President and Chief Operating Officer, and Bruce Labovitz, our
Chief Financial Officer. Our continued success also depends on
our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel. We
believe that Messrs. Clemente, Benson and Labovitz each
possesses valuable industry knowledge, experience and leadership
abilities that would be difficult in the short term to
replicate. The loss of these or other key employees could harm
our operations, business plans and cash flows.
Our growth requires additional capital, which may not be available. |
The real estate development industry is capital intensive and
requires significant expenditures for land purchases, land
development and construction as well as potential acquisitions
of other homebuilders. In order to execute our growth strategy,
we anticipate that we will need to obtain additional financing
as we expand our operations. These funds may be obtained through
public or private debt or equity financings, additional bank
borrowings or from strategic alliances or joint ventures. We may
not be successful in obtaining additional funds in a timely
manner, on favorable terms or at all. Moreover, certain of our
bank financing agreements contain provisions that limit the type
and amount of debt we may incur in the future without our
lenders consent. In addition, the availability of borrowed
funds, especially for land acquisition and construction
financing, may be greatly reduced, and lenders may require us to
invest increased amounts of equity in a project in connection
with both new loans and the extension of existing loans. If we
do not have access to additional capital, we may be required to
delay, scale back or abandon some or all of our acquisition
plans or growth strategies or reduce capital expenditures and
the size of our operations and as a result may experience a
material adverse affect on our business, results of operations
and cash flows.
Our growth depends on the availability of construction, acquisition and development loans. |
Currently, we have multiple construction, acquisition and
development loans. We are considering replacing these credit
facilities with one or more larger facilities, which may reduce
our aggregate debt financing costs. If we are unable to obtain a
larger facility, we will need to continue to rely on our smaller
credit facilities. These smaller credit facilities generally
have higher costs and require significant management time to
administer them. Additionally, if financial institutions decide
to discontinue providing these facilities to us, we would lose
our primary source of financing our operations or the cost of
retaining or replacing these
22
credit facilities could increase dramatically. Further, this
type of financing is typically characterized by short-term loans
which are subject to call. If our primary financing becomes
unavailable or accelerated repayment is demanded, we may not be
able to meet our obligations.
A significant portion of our business plan involves construction of mixed-use developments and high-rise projects with which we have less experience. |
We expect to increase our construction and development of
mixed-use and high-rise residential projects. Our experience is
largely based on smaller wood-framed structures that are less
complex than high-rise construction or the development of
mixed-use projects. A mixed-use project is one that integrates
residential and non-residential uses in the same structure or in
close proximity to each other, on the same land. As we expand
into these new product types, we expect to encounter operating,
marketing, customer service, warranty and management challenges
with which we have less familiarity. Although we have expanded
our management team to include individuals with significant
experience in this type of real estate development, we have not
completed any projects managed by these persons. If we are
unable to successfully manage the challenges of this portion of
our business, we may incur additional costs and our results of
operations and cash flows could be adversely affected.
If we experience shortages of labor or supplies or other circumstances beyond our control, there could be delays or increased costs in developing our projects, which would adversely affect our operating results and cash flows. |
We and the home building industry from time to time may be
affected by circumstances beyond our control, including:
| work stoppages, labor disputes and shortages of qualified trades people, such as carpenters, roofers, electricians and plumbers; | |
| lack of availability of adequate utility infrastructure and services; | |
| transportation cost increases; | |
| our need to rely on local subcontractors who may not be adequately capitalized or insured; and | |
| shortages or fluctuations in prices of building materials. |
These difficulties have caused and likely will cause unexpected
construction delays and short-term increases in construction
costs. In an attempt to protect the margins on our projects, we
often purchase certain building materials with commitments that
lock in the prices of these materials for 90 to 120 days or
more. However, once the supply of building materials subject to
these commitments is exhausted, we are again subject to market
fluctuations and shortages. We may not be able to recover
unexpected increases in construction or materials costs by
raising our home prices because, typically, the price of each
home is established at the time a customer executes a home sale
contract. Furthermore, sustained increases in construction costs
may, over time, erode our profit margins and may adversely
affect our results of operations and cash flows.
We depend on the availability and skill of subcontractors. |
Substantially all of our construction work is done by
subcontractors with us acting as the general contractor or by
subcontractors working for a general contractor we select for a
particular project. Accordingly, the timing and quality of our
construction depends on the availability and skill of those
subcontractors. We do not have long-term contractual commitments
with subcontractors or suppliers. Although we believe that our
relationships with our suppliers and subcontractors are good, we
cannot assure that skilled subcontractors will continue to be
available at reasonable rates and in the areas in which we
conduct our operations. The inability to contract with skilled
subcontractors or general contractors at reasonable costs on a
timely basis could limit our ability to build and deliver homes
and could erode our profit margins and adversely affect our
results of operations and cash flows.
23
Product liability litigation and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business may be costly or negatively impact sales, which could adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows. |
Our home building business is subject to construction defect and
product liability claims arising in the ordinary course of
business. These claims are common in the home building industry
and can be costly. Among the claims for which developers and
builders have financial exposure are property damage,
environmental claims and bodily injury claims. Damages awarded
under these suits may include the costs of remediation, loss of
property and health-related bodily injury. In response to
increased litigation, insurance underwriters have attempted to
limit their risk by excluding coverage for certain claims
associated with environmental conditions, pollution and product
and workmanship defects. As a developer and a home builder, we
may be at risk of loss for mold-related property, bodily injury
and other claims in amounts that exceed available limits on our
comprehensive general liability policies. In addition, the costs
of insuring against construction defect and product liability
claims are high and the amount of coverage offered by insurance
companies is limited. Uninsured product liability and similar
claims, claims in excess of the limits under our insurance
policies and the costs of obtaining insurance to cover such
claims could have a material adverse effect on our revenues,
earnings and cash flows.
Increased insurance risk could negatively affect our business, results of operations and cash flows. |
Insurance and surety companies have reassessed many aspects of
their business and, as a result, may take actions that could
negatively affect our business. These actions could include
increasing insurance premiums, requiring higher self-insured
retentions and deductibles, requiring additional collateral on
surety bonds, reducing limits, restricting coverages, imposing
exclusions, and refusing to underwrite certain risks and classes
of business. Any of these actions may adversely affect our
ability to obtain appropriate insurance coverage at reasonable
costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our
business. Additionally, coverage for certain types of claims,
such as claims relating to mold, is generally unavailable.
Further, we rely on surety bonds, typically provided by
insurance companies, as a means of limiting the amount of
capital utilized in connection with the public improvement
sureties that we are required to post with governmental
authorities in connection with land development and construction
activities. The cost of obtaining these surety bonds is, from
time to time, unpredictable and on occasion these surety bonds
are unavailable. These factors can delay commencement of
development projects and adversely affect revenue, earnings and
cash flows.
We are subject to warranty claims arising in the ordinary course of business that could be costly. |
We provide service warranties on our homes for a period of one
year or more post closing and a structural warranty for five
years post closing. We self-insure all of our warranties and
reserve an amount we believe will be sufficient to satisfy any
warranty claims on homes we sell. We also attempt to pass much
of the risk associated with potential defects in materials and
workmanship on to the subcontractors performing the work and the
suppliers and manufacturers of the materials. In such cases, we
still may incur unanticipated costs if a subcontractor, supplier
or manufacturer fails to honor its obligations regarding the
work or materials it supplies to our projects. If the amount of
actual claims materially exceeds our aggregate warranty reserves
and/or the amounts we can recover from our subcontractors and
suppliers, our operating results and cash flows would be
adversely affected.
Our business, revenues, earnings and cash flows may be adversely affected by adverse weather conditions or natural disasters. |
Adverse weather conditions, such as extended periods of rain,
snow or cold temperatures, and natural disasters, such as
hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and fires, can delay completion
and sale of homes, damage partially complete or other unsold
homes in our inventory and/or decrease the demand for homes or
increase the cost of building homes. To the extent that natural
disasters or adverse weather events occur, our business and
results may be adversely affected. To the extent our insurance
is not adequate to cover business interruption losses or repair
costs resulting from these events, our revenues, earnings and
cash flows may be adversely affected.
24
We are subject to certain environmental laws and the cost of compliance could adversely affect our business, results of operations and cash flows. |
As a current or previous owner or operator of real property, we
may be liable under federal, state, and local environmental
laws, ordinances and regulations for the costs of removal or
remediation of hazardous or toxic substances on, under or in the
properties or in the proximity of the properties we develop.
These laws often impose liability whether or not we knew of, or
were responsible for, the presence of such hazardous or toxic
substances. The cost of investigating, remediating or removing
such hazardous or toxic substances may be substantial. The
presence of any such substance, or the failure promptly to
remediate any such substance, may adversely affect our ability
to sell the property, to use the property for our intended
purpose, or to borrow funds using the property as collateral. In
addition, the construction process involves the use of hazardous
and toxic materials. We could be held liable under environmental
laws for the costs of removal or remediation of such materials.
In addition, our existing credit facilities also restrict our
access to the loan proceeds if the properties that are used to
collateralize the loans are contaminated by hazardous substances
and require us to indemnify the bank against losses resulting
from such occurrence for significant periods of time, even after
the loan is fully repaid.
Our Eclipse project is part of a larger development located at
Potomac Yard in northern Virginia. Potomac Yard was formerly
part of a railroad switching yard contaminated by rail-related
activities. Remediation of the property was conducted under
supervision of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or
EPA, in coordination with state and local authorities. In 1998,
federal, state and local government agencies authorized
redevelopment of the property. Our plans for development of our
portion of the project are consistent with those authorizations.
Although concentrations of contaminants remain on the property
under the EPA-approved remediation work plan, the EPA has
determined that they do not present an unacceptable risk to
human health or the environment. However, it is possible that we
could incur some costs to defend against any claims that might
be brought in the future relating to any such contaminants.
If we are not able to develop our communities successfully, our earnings and cash flows could be diminished. |
Before a community generates any revenues, material expenditures
are required to acquire land, to obtain development approvals
and to construct significant portions of project infrastructure,
amenities, model homes and sales facilities. It can take a year
or more for a community development to achieve cumulative
positive cash flow. Our inability to develop and market our
communities successfully and to generate positive cash flows
from these operations in a timely manner would have a material
adverse effect on our ability to service our debt and to meet
our working capital requirements.
Our operating results may vary. |
We expect to experience variability in our revenues and net
income. Factors expected to contribute to this variability
include, among other things:
| the uncertain timing of real estate closings; | |
| our ability to continue to acquire additional land or options thereon on acceptable terms and the timing of all necessary regulatory approvals required for development; | |
| the condition of the real estate market and the general economy in the markets in which we operate; | |
| the cyclical nature of the home building industry; | |
| the changing regulatory environment concerning real estate development and home building; | |
| changes in prevailing interests rates and the availability of mortgage financing; and | |
| costs of material and labor and delays in construction schedules. |
The volume of sales contracts and closings typically varies from
month to month and from quarter to quarter depending on several
factors, including the stages of development of our projects,
weather and other
25
factors beyond our control. In the early stages of a
projects development, we incur significant
start-up costs
associated with, among other things, project design, land
acquisition and development, construction and marketing
expenses. Since revenues from sales of properties are generally
recognized only upon the transfer of title at the closing of a
sale, no revenue is recognized during the early stages of a
project unless land parcels or residential homesites are sold to
other developers. Periodic sales of properties may be
insufficient to fund operating expenses. Further, if sales and
other revenues are not adequate to cover operating expenses, we
will be required to seek sources of additional operating funds.
Accordingly, our financial results will vary from community to
community and from time to time.
Acts of war or terrorism may seriously harm our business. |
Acts of war, any outbreak or escalation of hostilities between
the United States and any foreign power or acts of terrorism,
may cause disruption to the U.S. economy, or the local
economies of the markets in which we operate, cause shortages of
building materials, increase costs associated with obtaining
building materials, result in building code changes that could
increase costs of construction, affect job growth and consumer
confidence, or cause economic changes that we cannot anticipate,
all of which could reduce demand for our homes and adversely
impact our revenues, earnings and cash flows.
Being a public company increases our administrative costs. |
We completed our initial public offering in December 2004 and a
follow-on offering in June 2005. As a public company, we incur
significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not
incur as a private company. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002, as well as new rules subsequently implemented by the
Securities and Exchange Commission, have required changes in
corporate governance practices of public companies. In addition
to final rules and rule proposals already made by the Securities
and Exchange Commission, the National Association of Securities
Dealers, or NASD, has adopted revisions to its requirements for
companies that are listed on the Nasdaq National Market. We
expect these new rules and regulations to increase our legal and
financial compliance costs, and to make some activities more
time consuming and/or costly. For example, in anticipation of
becoming a public company we added personnel, particularly
accounting staff, added independent directors, created board
committees, adopted additional internal controls and disclosure
controls and procedures, retained a transfer agent and a
financial printer, adopted an insider trading policy and other
corporate governance policies, and will have all of the internal
and external costs of preparing and distributing periodic public
reports in compliance with our obligations under the securities
laws. We also expect these new rules and regulations to make it
more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability
insurance. These new rules and regulations could also make it
more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of
our board of directors and qualified executive officers.
We do not own the Comstock brand or trademark, but use the brand and trademark pursuant to the terms of a perpetual license granted by Christopher Clemente, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. |
Our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board,
Christopher Clemente, has licensed the Comstock
brand and trademark to us in perpetuity and free of charge. We
do not own the brand or the trademark and may be unable to
protect it against infringement from third parties. However,
Mr. Clemente retains the right to continue using the
Comstock brand and trademark individually and
through affiliates, including in real estate development
projects in our current or future markets. We will be unable to
control the quality of projects undertaken by Mr. Clemente
or others using the Comstock brand and trademark and
therefore will be unable to prevent any damage to its goodwill
that may occur. We will further be unable to preclude
Mr. Clemente from licensing or transferring the ownership
of the Comstock trademark to third parties, some of
whom may compete against us. Consequently, we are at risk that
our brand could be damaged which could have a material adverse
effect on our business, operations and cash flows.
26
Risks Related to our Common Stock and the Securities
Markets
Volatility of our stock price could adversely affect stockholders. |
The market price of our Class A common stock could
fluctuate significantly as a result of:
| quarterly variations in our operating results; | |
| general conditions in the home building industry; | |
| interest rate changes; | |
| changes in the markets expectations about our operating results; | |
| our operating results failing to meet the expectation of securities analysts or investors in a particular period; | |
| changes in financial estimates and recommendations by securities analysts concerning our Company or the home building industry in general; | |
| operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors deem comparable to us; | |
| news reports relating to trends in our markets; | |
| changes in laws and regulations affecting our business; | |
| material announcements by us or our competitors; | |
| material announcements by our construction lenders or the manufacturers and suppliers we use; | |
| sales of substantial amounts of Class A common stock by our directors, executive officers or significant stockholders or the perception that such sales could occur; and | |
| general economic and political conditions such as recessions and acts of war or terrorism. |
Investors may not be able to resell their shares of our
Class A common stock following periods of volatility
because of the markets adverse reaction to that
volatility. Our Class A common stock may not trade at the
same levels as the stock of other homebuilders, and the market
in general may not sustain its current prices.
Investors in our Class A common stock may experience dilution with the future exercise of stock options, the grant of restricted stock and issuance of stock in connection with our acquisitions of other homebuilders. |
From time to time, we have issued and we will continue to issue
stock options or restricted stock grants to employees and
non-employee directors pursuant to our equity incentive plan. We
expect that these options or restricted stock grants will
generally vest commencing one year from the date of grant and
continue vesting over a three-year period. Investors may
experience dilution as the options vest and are exercised by
their holders and the restrictions lapse on the restricted stock
grants. In addition, we may issue stock in connection with
acquisitions of other homebuilders, which may result in
investors experiencing dilution.
Substantial sales of our Class A common stock, or the perception that such sales might occur, could depress the market price of our Class A common stock. |
A substantial amount of the shares of our Class A common
stock are eligible for immediate resale in the public market.
Any sales of substantial amounts of our Class A common
stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales
might occur, could depress the market price of our Class A
common stock.
27
The holders of our Class B common stock exert control over us and thus limit the ability of other stockholders to influence corporate matters. |
Messrs. Clemente and Benson own 100% of our outstanding
Class B common stock, which, together with their shares of
Class A common stock, represent approximately 78.5% of the
combined voting power of all classes of our voting stock. As a
result, Messrs. Clemente and Benson, acting together, have
control over us, the election of our board of directors and our
management and policies. Messrs. Clemente and Benson,
acting together, also have control over all matters requiring
stockholder approval, including the amendment of certain
provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, the
approval of any equity-based employee compensation plans and the
approval of fundamental corporate transactions, including
mergers. In light of this control, other companies could be
discouraged from initiating a potential merger, takeover or any
other transaction resulting in a change of control. Such a
transaction potentially could be beneficial to our business or
to our stockholders. This may in turn reduce the price that
investors are willing to pay in the future for shares of our
Class A common stock.
The limited voting rights of our Class A common stock could impact its attractiveness to investors and its liquidity and, as a result, its market value. |
The holders of our Class A and Class B common stock
generally have identical rights, except that holders of our
Class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share and
holders of our Class B common stock are entitled to 15
votes per share on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.
The difference in the voting rights of the Class A and
Class B common stock could diminish the value of the
Class A common stock to the extent that investors or any
potential future purchasers of our Class A common stock
ascribe value to the superior voting rights of the Class B
common stock.
It may be difficult for a third party to acquire us, which could inhibit stockholders from realizing a premium on their stock price. |
We are subject to the Delaware anti-takeover laws regulating
corporate takeovers. These anti-takeover laws prevent Delaware
corporations from engaging in business combinations with any
stockholder, including all affiliates and employees of the
stockholder, who owns 15% or more of the corporations
outstanding voting stock, for three years following the date
that the stockholder acquired 15% or more of the
corporations voting stock unless specified conditions are
met.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws
contain provisions that have the effect of delaying, deferring
or preventing a change in control of us that stockholders may
consider favorable or beneficial. These provisions could
discourage proxy contests and make it more difficult for
stockholders to elect directors and take other corporate
actions. These provisions could also limit the price that
investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of
our common stock. These provisions include:
| a staggered board of directors, so that it would take three successive annual meetings to replace all directors; | |
| a prohibition of stockholder action by written consent; and | |
| advance notice requirements for the submission by stockholders of nominations for election to the board of directors and for proposing matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at a meeting. |
Our issuance of shares of preferred stock could delay or prevent a change of control of us. |
Our board of directors has the authority to cause us to issue,
without any further vote or action by the stockholders, up to
20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value
$.01 per share, in one or more series, to designate the
number of shares constituting any series, and to fix the rights,
preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof, including
dividend rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption,
redemption price or prices and liquidation preferences of such
series. The issuance of shares of preferred stock may have the
effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control
of us without further action by the stockholders, even where
stockholders are offered a premium for their shares. The
issuance of shares of preferred stock with
28
voting and conversion rights may adversely affect the voting
power of the holders of Class A common stock, including the
loss of voting control. We have no present plans to issue any
shares of preferred stock.
Item 1B. | Unresolved Staff Comments |
None.
Item 2. | Properties |
Our principal administrative, sales and marketing facilities are
located at our headquarters in Reston, Virginia. We currently
lease 29,033 square feet of office space in the Reston
facility from Comstock Asset Management, L.C., an affiliate
wholly-owned by Christopher Clemente. Pursuant to this five-year
headquarters lease which we entered into on October 1, 2004
and modified on August 1, 2005 for an additional
8,424 square feet, we pay annual rental rates of $709,567,
subject to a 4% annual increase. We also lease office space in
Raleigh, North Carolina where we occupy approximately
3,300 square feet of office space. On October 1, 2005
we entered into a five-year lease agreement for a new sales
office in Reston, Virginia, which we occupy approximately
4,351 square feet of office space. We believe these
facilities are suitable and provide the appropriate level of
capacity for our current operations.
Item 3. | Legal Proceedings |
As manager of an affiliated entity, we exercised our option
rights to purchase the project acquisition, development and
construction loans made for the benefit of North Shore project
located in Raleigh, North Carolina. We subsequently issued a
notice of default under the acquisition and development loan at
maturity on September 30, 2005 and thereafter filed suit
for collection of the loans against one of the individual
guarantors under the loan on or about October 21, 2005 for
a claim amount of $1.8 million as of the date of the
filing. The Company finalized the purchase of the loans on or
about September 8, 2005, issued a notice of default under
the acquisition and development loan at maturity on
September 30, 2005 and subsequently filed suit for
collection of the loans against one of the individual guarantors
under the loan on or about October 21, 2005 and initiated
foreclosure proceedings on or about November 18, 2005. On
or about December 22, 2005, the individual guarantor
subject to the earlier suit filed a countersuit against two of
the officers of the Company who were also individual guarantors
under loans. The Company has set a foreclosure sale for
March 23, 2006.
On August 11, 2005, the Company was served with a motion to
compel arbitration resulting from an allegation of a loan
brokerage fee being owed for placement of a $147.0 million
project loan for the Potomac Yard project. The claim in the base
amount of $2.0 million plus interest and costs is based on
breach of contract and equitable remedies of unjust enrichment
and quantum meruit. The Company has denied the claims.
Other than the foregoing, we are not currently subject to any
material legal proceedings. From time to time, however, we are
named as a defendant in legal actions arising from our normal
business activities. Although we cannot accurately predict the
amount of our liability, if any, that could arise with respect
to legal actions currently pending against us, we do not expect
that any such liability will have a material adverse effect on
our financial position, operating results or cash flows.
We believe that we have obtained adequate insurance coverage or
rights to indemnification, or where appropriate, have
established reserves in connection with these legal proceedings.
29
Item 4. | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. |
None.
PART II
Item 5. | Market for the Registrants Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities |
Market for Common Stock
Our Class A common stock has been traded on the Nasdaq
National Market under the symbol CHCI since our
initial public offering on December 14, 2004. The following
table sets forth the high and low sale prices of our
Class A common stock, as reported on Nasdaq, for the
periods indicated:
High | Low | ||||||||
Fiscal Year Ended 2004
|
|||||||||
Fourth quarter
|
$ | 22.10 | $ | 16.00 | |||||
Fiscal Year Ended 2005
|
|||||||||
First quarter
|
$ | 31.00 | $ | 18.39 | |||||
Second quarter
|
$ | 27.03 | $ | 18.80 | |||||
Third quarter
|
$ | 29.42 | $ | 17.76 | |||||
Fourth quarter
|
$ | 19.97 | $ | 13.34 |
On March 10, 2006, there were approximately 18 record
holders and approximately 3,620 beneficial owners of our
Class A common stock. On March 10, 2006 there were two
holders of our Class B common stock.
Dividends
We have never paid any cash dividends on our common stock. From
time to time, our board of directors evaluates the desirability
of paying cash dividends. The further payment and amount of cash
dividends will depend upon our financial condition and results
of operations, applicable loan covenants and other factors
deemed relevant by our board of directors.
Item 6. | Selected Financial Data |
The following table contains selected consolidated and combined
financial information and is supplemented by the more detailed
financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in
this report. We derived the selected historical financial data
shown below for 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001 from our audited
financial statements. You should read the following financial
information in conjunction with Managements
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations,
30
Business and our combined consolidated financial
statements and the related notes, included elsewhere in this
report.
FIVE YEAR COMPARISON OF SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Dollars in thousands (except per share data)
Year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | |||||||||||||||||
Revenues
|
$ | 224,305 | $ | 96,045 | $ | 55,521 | $ | 34,752 | $ | 50,929 | |||||||||||
Expenses
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of sales
|
157,706 | 63,993 | 41,756 | 26,820 | 40,853 | ||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative
|
24,190 | 11,940 | 5,712 | 3,725 | 3,900 | ||||||||||||||||
Operating income
|
42,409 | 20,112 | 8,053 | 4,207 | 6,176 | ||||||||||||||||
Other (income) expense, net
|
(1,450 | ) | 908 | (44 | ) | 10 | (302 | ) | |||||||||||||
Income before minority interest and equity in earnings of real
estate partnerships
|
43,859 | 19,204 | 8,097 | 4,197 | 6,478 | ||||||||||||||||
Minority interest
|
30 | 5,260 | 2,297 | 664 | 1965 | ||||||||||||||||
Income before equity in earnings of real estate partnerships
|
43,829 | 13,944 | 5,800 | 3,533 | 4,513 | ||||||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of real estate partnerships
|
99 | 118 | 139 | 51 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
Income before income taxes
|
43,928 | 14,062 | 5,939 | 3,584 | 4,519 | ||||||||||||||||
Income tax provision (benefit)
|
16,366 | (241 | ) | | | | |||||||||||||||
Net income
|
$ | 27,562 | $ | 14,303 | $ | 5,939 | $ | 3,584 | $ | 4,519 | |||||||||||
Basic earnings per share
|
$ | 2.14 | $ | 1.95 | $ | 0.84 | $ | 0.59 | $ | 0.74 | |||||||||||
Basic weighted average shares outstanding(1)
|
12,870 | 7,347 | 7,067 | 6,074 | 6,074 | ||||||||||||||||
Dilutive earnings per share
|
$ | 2.12 | $ | 1.95 | $ | 0.84 | $ | 0.59 | $ | 0.59 | |||||||||||
Dilutive weighted average shares outstanding(1)
|
13,022 | 7,351 | 7,067 | 6,074 | 6,074 | ||||||||||||||||
December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | |||||||||||||||||
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents
|
$ | 42,167 | $ | 67,559 | $ | 17,160 | $ | 8,695 | $ | 7,086 | |||||||||||
Real estate held for development and sale
|
263,802 | 104,326 | 65,272 | 20,192 | 8,573 | ||||||||||||||||
Total assets
|
431,319 | 304,507 | 90,184 | 33,971 | 18,402 | ||||||||||||||||
Notes payable
|
143,657 | 76,628 | 61,062 | 17,203 | 9,439 | ||||||||||||||||
Total liabilities
|
285,843 | 239,586 | 71,746 | 21,574 | 13,035 | ||||||||||||||||
Minority interest
|
400 | 2,695 | 11,413 | 8,790 | 2,390 |
(1) | Shares outstanding of the Predecessor for prior years have been adjusted to account for shares issued to Predecessor owners in connection with the initial public offering of Comstocks common stock. |
Item 7. | Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition
and results of operations should be read in conjunction with
Selected Financial and Other Data and our
consolidated and combined financial statements and related notes
appearing elsewhere in this report. Other than in the
Overview below, this discussion and analysis does
not incorporate the financial condition and results of
operations of Comstock
31
Service, Inc., under which entity we previously conducted our
Raleigh, North Carolina operations before the merger of Comstock
Service, Inc. into Comstock Homebuilding Companies, Inc. The
merger of Comstock Service, Inc. was treated as an acquisition
for accounting purposes. This discussion and analysis contains
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Please see Cautionary Notes Regarding Forward-looking
Statements for more information. Our actual results could
differ materially from those anticipated in these
forward-looking statements as a result of various factors
including, but not limited to, those discussed below and
elsewhere in this report, particularly under the headings
Risk Factors and Cautionary Notes Regarding
Forward-looking Statements.
Overview
We engage in the business of residential land development,
production home building and high-rise condominium development
in the greater Washington, D.C. and Raleigh, North Carolina
markets. Our business was started in 1985 by Christopher
Clemente, our Chief Executive Officer, as a residential land
developer and home builder focused on the luxury home market in
the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. In 1992,
we repositioned ourselves as a production home builder focused
on moderately priced homes in areas where we could more readily
purchase finished building lots through option contracts. In
1997, we entered the Raleigh, North Carolina market.
In the late 1990s, in response to increasing competition for
finished lots, we diversified our product base to include
multiple product types and home designs, and we rebuilt our
in-house land development department to include significant
experience in both land development operations and land
entitlement expertise. Our strategic goal was to secure and
control a pipeline of diversified land inventory at various
stages of entitlement, thus reducing our dependence on other
land developers for finished building lots and improving our
ability to control our growth.
We have recently begun to engage in the business of converting
existing rental apartment properties to
for-sale condominium
projects. This process involves the purchase of existing
structures which may be new and never occupied or may be
occupied by tenants with leases of varying duration. When we
purchase these properties we subdivide the units and form a
condominium association. In these projects we will usually
invest capital in the improvement of the common areas and
exteriors. If the properties are occupied, then as the
tenants leases expire we will renovate the interiors of
the apartments and then sell each apartment as an individual
condominium unit. These conversion projects typically produce
lower net profit margins than our standard real estate
development projects but not necessarily less than a typical
finished lot option project. However, since they take
significantly less time to complete than our real estate
development projects, they tend to generate higher internal
rates of return on invested capital. We expect to continue to
acquire condominium conversion and similar projects to the
extent quality opportunities present themselves.
In recent years, our financial results have been influenced
significantly by the availability of building lots, the timing
of entitlement processes, the mix of products available for sale
and the timing of settlements.
The amount of time that it takes to bring a new development to
market varies greatly depending on, among other things, the
location and jurisdiction, governmental zoning and permitting
processes, site development conditions, weather conditions, and
the type of product to be constructed on the subject site. There
can be a six- to
36-month lag time
between the time we contract to purchase a site and the time we
begin developing and/or delivering homes on the site. For
example, a site that requires entitlement processing takes
longer than a site where we purchase finished building lots.
Additionally, condominium homes take longer to construct than
townhouses and single-family homes and high-rise developments
take longer to construct than low-rise developments. As a result
of this lag, it has been our experience that an increasing lot
inventory in one period does not necessarily correlate to
increasing sales in the immediately following periods. Thus,
there are both market risks and benefits associated with the lag
time between controlling a property and realizing revenue from
the property.
We can experience significant variation from one period to the
next with respect to average price per new order and average
settlement revenue. This variation often results from shifts in
the mix of products being sold during the period. While it is
most typical that single-family homes are priced higher than
townhouses or
32
condominiums, it is possible that during a given period, orders
and deliveries may include townhouses, based on location, that
price higher than single-family homes. Likewise, in any project
in any period, condominium units may produce higher average per
unit sales prices and/or settlement revenues. Lower average per
unit orders or settlements do not necessarily indicate that
margins have been eroded or that profits have been reduced.
Average settlement revenue can be both higher and lower than
average price per new order in the prior period based on the mix
of available product for sale.
For the 12 month periods ended December 31, the
approximate average order prices for our market rate homes
(which excludes county government mandated affordable housing
program units required to be sold at a discount) were as follows:
12-month period ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
SUMMARY | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | |||||||||
Townhouse
|
$ | 271,430 | $ | 342,457 | $ | 438,845 | ||||||
Single Family
|
$ | 443,400 | $ | 460,066 | $ | 548,750 | ||||||
Condominium
|
$ | 343,560 | $ | 380,548 | $ | 309,378 |
We have made significant investments over the past three years
to become a fully integrated and diversified home building
operation with a wide spectrum of skills and a substantial
pipeline of building lot inventory. The costs of our expansion
and diversification were most evident in 2002 and 2003 as we
experienced delays developing our inventory of land due to
entitlement delays and extreme weather conditions. In 2002,
these delays were principally caused by demand for development
and construction entitlements and permitting at a pace that
exceeded the ability of the local municipalities to respond.
Severe weather exacerbated these delays. The result was a
temporary shortage of building lot inventory from which we could
sell homes and an increase in our land position and backlog.
Consequently, we posted negative growth in 2002 and slower than
expected growth in 2003. Towards the end of 2003 we began to
realize the benefits of a replenished and diversified building
lot inventory. At December 31, 2005, we either owned or
controlled under option agreements over 4,200 building lots.
Recent accounting pronouncements
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board
issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123
(revised 2004), Share-Based Payments,
(SFAS 123R). SFAS 123R is a revision of
SFAS 123 and supersedes APB No. 25. SFAS 123R
requires that the cost resulting from all share-based payment
transactions be recognized in the financial statements and
establishes fair value as the measurement objective in
accounting for share-based payment arrangements. SFAS 123R
is effective as of the beginning of the first interim or annual
reporting period that begins after June 15, 2005, and
applies to all awards granted, modified, repurchased or
cancelled after the effective date, and all outstanding portions
of awards granted prior to the effective date which are unvested
as the effective date of the pronouncement. Entities may adopt
the provisions of SFAS 123R using either the modified
prospective or modified retrospective application. Under the
modified prospective method, compensation cost is recognized on
or after the required effective date for the portion of
outstanding awards for which the requisite service has not yet
been rendered, based on the grant-date fair value of those
awards calculated under SFAS 123 for either recognition or
pro forma disclosure. For periods before the required effective
date, the modified retrospective application may be applied to
either (a) all prior years for which SFAS 123 was
effective or (b) only to prior interim periods in the year
of initial adoption, on a basis consistent with the pro forma
disclosures required for those periods by SFAS 123. The
Company adopted SFAS 123R prospectively on January 1,
2004. Prior to December 17, 2004 the Company had no share
based payment transactions.
On June 29, 2005, the Emerging Issues Task Force
(EITF) reached a consensus on EITF Issue
No. 04-05, Determining Whether a General Partner, or
the General Partners as a Group, Controls a Limited Partnership
or Similar Entity When the Limited Partners Have Certain
Rights
(EITF 04-05).
The scope of
EITF 04-05 is
limited to limited partnerships or similar entities (such as
limited liability companies that have governing provisions that
are the functional equivalent of a limited partnership) that are
not variable interest entities under FIN 46 and provides a
new framework for addressing when a general partner in a
33
limited partnership, or managing member in the case of a limited
liability company, controls the entity. Under
EITF 04-05, we may
be required to consolidate certain investments that are not
variable interest entities, in which we hold a general partner
or managing member interest.
EITF 04-05 is
effective after June 29, 2005 for new entities formed after
such date and for existing entities for which the agreements are
subsequently modified and is effective for our fiscal year
beginning January 1, 2006 for all other entities. The
adoption of
EITF 04-05 did not
have any impact on our financial statements as of
December 31, 2005.
FAS 154 Accounting Changes and Error Corrections replaces
APB Opinion No. 20, and FASB Statement No. 3. Opinion
20 previously required that most voluntary changes in accounting
principle be recognized by including in net income of the period
of the change the cumulative effect of changing to the new
accounting principle. This Statement requires retrospective
application to prior periods financial statements of
changes in accounting principle, unless it is impracticable to
determine either the period-specific effects or the cumulative
effect of the change. When it is impracticable to determine the
period-specific effects of an accounting change on one or more
individual prior periods presented, this Statement requires that
the new accounting principle be applied to the balances of
assets and liabilities as of the beginning of the earliest
period for which retrospective application is practicable and
that a corresponding adjustment be made to the opening balance
of retained earnings (or other appropriate components of equity
or net assets in the statement of financial position) for that
period rather than being reported in an income statement. When
it is impracticable to determine the cumulative effect of
applying a change in accounting principle to all prior periods,
this Statement requires that the new accounting principle be
applied as if it were adopted prospectively from the earliest
date practicable.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our consolidated and combined financial statements are prepared
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
which require us to make certain estimates and judgments that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues
and expenses during the reporting periods. On an ongoing basis,
we evaluate our estimates, including those related to the
consolidation of variable interest entities, revenue
recognition, impairment of real estate held for development and
sale, warranty reserve and our environmental liability exposure.
We base our estimates on historical experience and on various
other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the
circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from these
estimates.
A summary of significant accounting policies is provided in
Note 2 to our audited consolidated and combined financial
statements. The following section is a summary of certain
aspects of those accounting policies that require our most
difficult, subjective or complex judgments and estimates.
Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities |
In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board
(FASB) issued Interpretation No. 46,
Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, or
FIN 46. FIN 46 requires the primary beneficiary of a
variable interest entity to consolidate that entity. A variable
interest entity is created when (i) the equity investment
at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity from financing
its activities without additional subordinated financial support
from other parties or (ii) equity holders either
(a) lack direct or indirect ability to make decisions about
the entity, (b) are not obligated to absorb expected losses
of the entity or (c) do not have the right to receive
expected residual returns of the entity if they occur. The
primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity is the party
that absorbs a majority of the variable interest entitys
expected losses, receives a majority of the entitys
expected residual returns, or both, as a result of ownership,
contractual or other financial interests in the entity. Expected
losses are the expected negative variability of an entitys
net assets exclusive of its variable interests, and expected
residual returns are the expected positive variability in the
fair value of an entitys assets, exclusive of variable
interests. Prior to the issuance of FIN 46, an enterprise
generally consolidated an entity when the enterprise had a
controlling financial interest in the entity through ownership
of a majority voting interest.
34
In December 2003, the FASB issued a revision of FIN 46
(FIN 46-R), clarifying certain provisions of
FIN 46. We adopted the provisions of FIN 46-R on
February 1, 2003 to the extent that they related to
variable interest entities created on or after that date. For
variable interest entities created before January 31, 2003,
FIN 46-R was deferred to the end of the first interim or
annual period ending after March 15, 2004. We fully adopted
FIN 46-R effective March 31, 2004. Based on the
provisions of FIN 46-R, we have concluded that whenever we
option land or lots from an entity and pay a significant
nonrefundable deposit, a variable interest entity is created
under condition (ii) (b) of the previous paragraph.
This is because we have been deemed to have provided
subordinated financial support, which refers to variable
interests that will absorb some or all of an entitys
expected theoretical losses if they occur. Therefore, for each
variable interest entity created, we compute the expected losses
and residual returns based on the probability of future cash
flows as outlined in FIN 46 to determine if we are deemed
to be the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entity.
The methodology used to evaluate our primary beneficiary status
requires substantial management judgment and estimation. These
judgments and estimates involve assigning probabilities to
various estimated cash flow possibilities relative to the
selling entitys expected profits and losses and the cash
flows associated with changes in the fair value of the land
under contract. Because we do not have any ownership interests
in the entities with which we contract to buy land (such as
LLCs), we may not have the ability to compel these entities to
provide financial or other data to assist us in the performance
of the primary beneficiary evaluation. This lack of direct
information from the contracting entities may result in our
evaluation being conducted solely based on the aforementioned
management judgments and estimates. Further, where we deem
ourselves to be the primary beneficiary of such an entity
created after December 31, 2003 and that entity refuses to
provide financial statements, we utilize estimation techniques
to perform the consolidation. While management believes that our
estimation techniques provide a reasonable basis for determining
the financial condition of an entity that refuses to provide
financial statements, the actual financial condition of the
entity could differ from that reported. In addition, although
management believes that our accounting policy is designed to
properly assess our primary beneficiary status relative to our
involvement with the entities from which we acquire land,
changes to the probabilities and the cash flow possibilities
used in our evaluation could produce different conclusions
regarding our primary beneficiary status.
Revenue Recognition |
We primarily derive our earned revenues from the sale of
residential property. We recognize residential revenue and all
related costs and expenses when full payment has been received,
title and possession of the property has been conveyed and risks
and rewards of ownership transfer to the buyer and other sale
and profit recognition criteria are satisfied. Management
estimates of future costs to be incurred after the completion of
each sale are included in cost of sales. A change in
circumstances that causes these estimates of future costs to
increase or revenues to decrease would significantly affect the
profit recognized on these sales.
Impairment of Real Estate Held for Development and Sale |
Real estate held for development and sale includes land, land
development costs, interest and other construction costs and is
stated at cost or, when circumstances or events indicate that
the real estate held for development or sale is impaired, at
estimated fair value. Circumstances or events we consider
important which could trigger an impairment review include the
following:
| significant negative industry or economic trends; | |
| a significant underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results; | |
| a significant change in the manner in which an asset is used; and | |
| an accumulation of costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected to construct an asset. |
Real estate is stated at the lower of cost or estimated fair
value using the methodology described as follows. A write-down
to estimated fair value is recorded when we determine that the
net book value exceeds the estimated selling prices less cost to
sell. These evaluations are made on a property-by-property
basis. When we determine that the net book value of an asset may
not be recoverable based upon the estimated
35
undiscounted cash flow, an impairment write-down is recorded.
The evaluation of future cash flows and fair value of individual
properties requires significant judgment and assumptions,
including estimates regarding expected sales prices, development
absorption and remaining development costs. Significant adverse
changes in circumstances affecting these judgments and
assumptions in future periods could cause a significant
impairment adjustment to be recorded. As discussed in
Note 5 in the accompanying financial statements, the
Company recorded an impairment charge of $1.2 million
during the fourth quarter of 2005.
Warranty Reserve |
Warranty reserves for houses sold are established to cover
potential costs for materials and labor with regard to
warranty-type claims expected to arise during the one-year
warranty period provided by us or within the five-year
statutorily mandated structural warranty period. Since we
generally subcontract our home building work, subcontractors are
required to provide us with an indemnity and a certificate of
insurance prior to receiving payments for their work. Claims
relating to workmanship and materials are generally the primary
responsibility of the subcontractors and product manufacturers.
The warranty reserve is established at the time of closing, and
is calculated based upon historical warranty cost experience and
current business factors. Variables used in the calculation of
the reserve, as well as the adequacy of the reserve based on the
number of homes still under warranty, are reviewed on a periodic
basis. Although management considers the warranty reserve to be
adequate, there can be no assurance that this reserve will prove
to be adequate over time to cover losses due to increased costs
for material and labor, the inability or refusal of
manufacturers or subcontractors to financially participate in
corrective action, unanticipated adverse legal settlements, or
other unanticipated changes to the assumptions used to estimate
the warranty reserve.
Environmental Liability Exposure |
Development and sale of real property creates a potential for
environmental liability on our part as owner and developer, for
our own acts as well as the acts of prior owners of the subject
property or owners or past owners of adjacent parcels. If
hazardous substances are discovered on or emanating from any of
our properties, we and prior owners may be held liable for costs
and liabilities relating to those hazardous substances. We
generally undertake environmental studies in connection with our
property acquisitions, when warranted. If we incur environmental
remediation costs in connection with properties we previously
sold, including clean up costs, consulting fees for
environmental studies and investigations, monitoring costs, and
legal costs relating to clean up, litigation defense and the
pursuit of responsible third parties, they are expensed. We
capitalize costs relating to land under development and
undeveloped land as part of development costs. Costs incurred
for properties to be sold are deferred and charged to cost of
sales when the properties are sold. Should a previously
undetected, substantial environmental hazard be found on our
properties, significant liquidity could be consumed by the
resulting clean up requirements and a material expense may be
recorded. Further, governmental regulation on environmental
matters affecting residential development could impose
substantial additional expense on us, which could adversely
affect our results of operations or the value of properties
owned under contract, or purchased by us. For additional
information regarding risks associated with environmental
hazards and environmental regulation, see
Business Risk Factors We are
Subject to Certain Environmental Laws and the Cost of Compliance
Could Adversely Affect our Business.
Results of Operations
Year ended December 31, 2005 compared to year ended December 31, 2004 |
Orders and Backlog. |
New orders for the year ended December 31, 2005 increased
$5.9 million, or 2.7%, to $230.3 million on 631 homes
as compared to $224.2 million on 608 homes for the year
ended December 31, 2004. This increase in new orders was
primarily attributable to an increase in saleable inventory
resulting from the opening of new projects including Penderbrook
(183 sales), Villas at Countryside (58 sales) and Commons on
Potomac Square (19 sales).
36
The average sale price per new order for the year ended
December 31, 2005 decreased by $4,000 to $365,000 as
compared to $369,000 for the year ended December 31, 2004.
The decrease was a result of significant amount of unit sales at
our Penderbrook, Villas at Countryside and Bellemeade Farms
condominium conversion projects, in which existing apartment
units are being converted to condominiums. By design, sales
prices tend to be lower in these conversion projects as compared
to our new construction projects. Our strategy with respect to
conversion projects is to identify assets where we can offer
lower priced, affordable product to first time home buyers. We
focus on older assets where we can add value while maintaining
price points which are more attractive to our target buyers.
Because we tend to be buying, renovating, and selling older
assets that are in prime locations we are able to position the
assets to be more affordable, and therefore, average new order
prices are lower. On average, the sale price of our townhouses
increased by approximately $81,900 during the year ended
December 31, 2005 to $443,600 from $361,700 at
December 31, 2004. On average, the sale price of our
single-family homes increased by approximately $89,500 during
the year ended December 31, 2005 to $598,200 from $508,700
at December 31, 2004. The average sale price of our
condominiums increased by $32,100 to $413,100 for the period
ending December 31, 2005 as compared to $381,000 for the
period ended December 31, 2004.
Our backlog at December 31, 2005 increased
$15.8 million, or 9.1%, to $190.4 million on 475 homes
as compared to our backlog at December 31, 2004 of
$174.6 million on 329 homes. Of the Companys
December 31, 2005 backlog, approximately
$157.6 million is derived from 390 sold units at the
Companys Eclipse on Center Park at Potomac Yard project.
Revenues. |
The number of homes delivered in the year ended
December 31, 2005 increased by 129.3.0% to 603 from 263
homes in the year ended December 31, 2004. Average revenue
per home delivered increased by approximately $28,000 to
$359,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005 as compared
to $331,000 for the year ended December 31, 2004.
Homebuilding revenues increased by $129.3 million, or
148.6%, to $216.3 million for the year ended
December 31, 2005 as compared to $87.0 million for the
year ended December 31, 2004. The increase in deliveries
and revenues from December 31, 2004 to December 31,
2005 is primarily attributable to settlements from the opening
of new communities and the release of inventory for sale at
projects such as Penderbrook (180 units), Villas at
Countryside (53 units), Bellemeade Farms (21 units),
Woodlands at Round Hill (17 units) and Commons on William
Square (56 units). In addition, the Company generated 33
settlements in 2005, as a result of its merger with Comstock
Service in December 2004.
Other Revenue. |
Other revenue for the year ended December 31, 2005
decreased by $1.0 million, or 11% to $8.0 million, as
compared to $9.0 million for the year ended
December 31, 2004. Other revenue for the year ended
December 31, 2005 and 2004 includes lot sales made to third
parties, revenue associated with the Companys Settlement
Title Services division, management fees received from
Comstock Asset Management Inc. (as discussed in Note 12),
and revenue received from a marketing services alliance. For the
year ended December 31, 2004, other revenue included
revenues associated with the management of Comstock Service. The
decrease in other revenue was primarily the result of not
recording management revenues from Comstock Service, which was
merged into Comstock Homebuilding on December 17, 2004.
Cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses. |
Cost of sales for the year ended December 31, 2005
increased $96.7 million, or 168.8%, to $154.1 million,
or 71.3% of homebuilding revenue, as compared to
$57.3 million, or 65.9% of revenue, for the year ended
December 31, 2004. The 5.4 percentage point increase
in cost of sales for the year ended December 31, 2005 is
primarily attributable to lower margins on sales in the North
Carolina market and the increase in settlements from the opening
of the Companys condominium conversion projects.
37
As discussed above, Comstock Service, the Companys North
Carolina division, was merged into Comstock Homebuilding on
December 17, 2004. Due to current market conditions in the
North Carolina market, which have caused extended hold and carry
periods between acquisition and delivery, the Company
experienced lower margins on its North Carolina settlements, as
compared to margins in the Washington, DC market, primarily due
to increasing interest and overhead carrying costs and modest
revenue concessions. In addition, as discussed in Note 5 in
the accompanying financial statements, the Company recorded a
$1.2 million impairment charge on the carrying value of
real estate held for development and sale at Kelton II, a
townhouse community in Raleigh, North Carolina. For 2005, the
Companys North Carolinas projects accounted for 5.5%
of our total settlements and 5.2% of total homebuilding
revenues. Cost of sales as a percentage of revenue for our North
Carolina division was approximately 84.2%
In addition, the Companys newly opened condo conversion
projects experienced lower margins than the Companys
traditional homebuilding projects due to the nature of a
conversion project in which the Company buys an existing
structure, adds value through upgrades and sells the renovated
units with a focus on affordability. As a result, costs of sales
tend to be higher as a percentage of revenue than our new
construction projects. For 2005, the Companys condo
conversion projects accounted for 42.1% of our total settlements
and 30.1% of total homebuilding revenues. Cost of sales as a
percentage of revenue for our condo conversion projects was
approximately 86.1%.
Cost of sales other for the year ended December 31, 2005
decreased by $3.1 million, or 45.8% to $3.6 million,
as compared to $6.7 million for the year ended
December 31, 2004. Cost of sales for the year ended
December 2005 and 2004 includes expenses associated with lot
sales made to third parties and expenses associated with the
management of the Companys Settlement Title Services
division. For the year ended December 2004, cost of sales other
also included expenses associated with the management of
Comstock Service, which was merged into Comstock Homebuilding on
December 17, 2004. The decrease for the year ended
December 31, 2005, as compared to 2004, was primarily the
result not recording costs associated with the management of
Comstock Service.
Selling, general and administrative costs for the year ended
December 31, 2005 increased $12.3 million to
$24.1 million from $11.9 million for the year ended
December 31, 2004. As a percentage of revenue, selling,
general and administrative expenses represented 10.8% and 12.4%
of total revenue during the year ended December 31, 2005
and 2004, respectively. This increase was the result of
additional staffing costs and compensation of $5.5 million
to support our growth, increased advertising expenses of
$740,000, board fees and stock compensation of
$2.0 million, office and model rent of $1.2 million,
consulting fees of $928,000, legal and computer expenses of
$458,000, insurance costs of $268,000 and other miscellaneous
expenses associated with our growth in staffing and land
acquisition efforts of $1.1 million.
Operating income. |
Operating income for the year ended December 31, 2005
increased $22.3 million to $42.4 million as compared
to $20.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2004.
Operating margin for the year ended December 31, 2005 was
18.9% compared to 20.9% for the year ended December 31,
2004. The decrease in operating margin is primarily attributable
to an increase in cost of sales as a percentage of revenue as
discussed above.
Other (income) expense, net.
Other (income) expense, net increased by $2.4 million to
net other income of $1.5 million for the year ended
December 31, 2005 as compared to net other expense of
908,000 for the year ended December 31, 2004. The increase
in other (income) expense is primarily attributable to interest
earned on the Companys cash balances generated as a result
of the proceeds from the Companys initial and follow on
public offering.
Income before minority interest. |
Our income before minority interest increased by
$24.7 million, or 228%, to $43.9 million for the year
ended December 31, 2005 as compared to $19.2 million
for the year ended December 31, 2004. Net margins
38
as a percentage of revenues remained consistent at approximately
20% for the year ended December 31, 2005 and 2004.
Minority interest. |
Minority interest expense decreased by $5.2 million to
$30,000 for the year ended December 31, 2005 as compared to
$5.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2004.
This decrease is the result of our repurchase or redemption of
substantially all of the minority interests in four of our
limited liability company subsidiaries including Comstock
Investors V, L.C., Comstock Investors VI, L.C., Comstock
Potomac Yard, L.C. and Comstock North Carolina, L.L.C.
subsequent to our initial public offering in December 2004.
Income taxes. |
On December 17, 2004, the Company reorganized from a group
of S-corporations to a C-corporation. As a result of the Company
being subject to income taxes for only 14 days during 2004.
Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2005 was
$16.4 million compared to $(241,000) for the year ended
December 31, 2004. The Companys combined effective
tax rate including both current and deferred provisions for the
year ended December 31, 2005 was 37.3%.
Year ended December 31, 2004 compared to year ended December 31, 2003 |
Orders and Backlog. |
New orders for the year ended December 31, 2004 increased
$155 million, or 224.6%, to $224.2 million on 608
homes as compared to $69.1 million on 208 homes for the
year ended December 31, 2003. This increase in new orders
was primarily attributable to the opening of our Eclipse at
Potomac Yard project during the second half of the year.
Including Comstock Service, which was acquired on
December 17, 2004, the value of new orders for the year
ended December 31, 2004 was $241.0 million on
665 units.
The average sale price per new order for the year ended
December 31, 2004 increased by $49,000 to $369,000 as
compared to $320,000 for the year ended December 31, 2003.
This change was attributable to both a shift in product mix that
included a significant number of higher-priced condominiums
sales derived from the opening of our Eclipse at Potomac Yard
project during the year ended December 31, 2003 and general
price appreciation in the Washington, DC area. On average, the
sale price of townhouses increased $90,300 to $361,700 for the
year ended December 31, 2004 as compared to the year ended
December 31, 2003. On average, the sale price of our
single-family homes increased by approximately $65,300 during
the year ended December 31, 2004 to $508,700 from $443,400
at December 31, 2003. The average sale price of our
condominiums increased by $37,400 to $381,000 for the period
ending December 31, 2004 as compared to $343,600 for the
period ended December 31, 2003. Including Comstock Service,
the changes for the year ended December 31, 2004 were a
$71,000 increase in the average sale price of a townhouse to
approximately $342,500; a $16,700 increase in the average sale
price of a single family home to approximately $460,100; and a
$37,000 increase in the sales price of a condominium to
approximately $380,500.
Our backlog at December 31, 2004, which includes Comstock
Service, increased $138.2 million, or 438.4%, to
$174.6 million on 329 homes compared to our backlog at
December 31, 2003 of $31.5 million on 93 homes. This
increase in backlog is primarily attributable to sales at the
Eclipse project in Arlington, Virginia which represented
approximately $105 million of the backlog at
December 31, 2004.
Revenues. |
The number of homes delivered in the year ended
December 31, 2004 increased by 62.3% to 263 from 162 homes
in the year ended December 31, 2003. Average per settlement
revenue increased by approximately $28,000 to $331,000 for the
year ended December 31, 2004 as compared to $303,000 for
the year ended December 31, 2003. Home building revenues
increased by $37.9 million, or 77.3%, to $87.0 million
for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared to
$49.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2003.
Total revenue increased $40.5 million to $96.0 million
for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared to
39
$55.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2003. The
increase in deliveries and revenue from December 31, 2003
to December 31, 2004 are in large part attributable to the
opening of new communities and the release of inventory for sale
in late 2003 at projects such as Blooms Mill (137 deliveries in
2004) and Emerald Farm (20 deliveries in 2004). In addition, the
beginning of deliveries in the first building at Belmont Bay 5
(11 deliveries in 2004) and the completion of Flynns Crossing
(49 deliveries in 2004) contributed to the increase. The $25,000
increase in average per settlement revenue also contributed to
the increase. Total revenue increased in part due to the
delivery of 30 lots at Blooms Mill to another homebuilder during
the year ended December 31, 2004 for $3.9 million of
Other Revenue which was an increase of 13 units and
$1.7 million from the year ended December 31, 2003.
Cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses. |
Cost of sales for the year ended December 31, 2004
increased $22.2 million, or 53.3%, to $64.0 million,
or 66.6% of revenue, as compared to $41.8 million, or 75.2%
of revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2003. The
increase in cost of goods sold during the year ended
December 31, 2004 as compared to the year ended
December 31, 2003 is directly attributable to the increase
in deliveries. The reduction of 8.6 percentage points in
cost of goods sold as a percentage of revenue is primarily
attributable to the cost basis in the land which was settled
during the year ended December 31, 2004 which represented a
lower percentage of revenue as compared to the cost basis of the
land settled during the year ended December 31, 2003. For
the year ended December 31, 2004, land costs for units
settled represented 17% of total revenue as compared to 20% for
the year ended December 31, 2003. The increase in gross
margin was also partially attributable to price increases in the
market which in general outpaced increases in costs of goods
sold.
Selling, general and administrative costs for the year ended
December 31, 2004 increased $6.2 million to
$11.9 million from $5.7 million for the year ended
December 31, 2003. This increase was the result of
additional staffing costs of $3.6 million to support our
growth and to provide the staffing required of a public company,
increased marketing expenses of $1.2 million, and increased
audit fees of $1.4 million associated with historical
periods presented in our initial public offering. As a
percentage of revenue, and as a result of expenses associated
with preparation for our initial public offering selling,
general and administrative expenses increased by
1.1 percentage points to 12.4% during the year ended
December 31, 2003 from 10.3% during the year ended
December 31, 2002.
Operating income. |
Our operating income for the year ended December 31, 2004
increased $12.1 million to $20.1 million as compared
to $8.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2003.
Our operating margin for the year ended December 31, 2004
was 20.9% compared with 14.5% for the year ended
December 31, 2003. The increase in operating margin is
attributable to an increased gross margin that outpaced the
increase in sales, general and administrative expenses as a
percentage of revenue. The increase in margin resulted in large
part from reductions in land and house costs as a percentage of
revenue.
Other (income) expense, net. |
Other (income) expense, net increased by $1.0 million to a
net expense of $0.9 million for the year ended
December 31, 2004 as compared to net income of $44,000 for
the year ended December 31, 2003. The increase in Other
(income) expense net is primarily attributable to interest from
a corporate working capital line of credit ($0.4 million)
and a pre-payment premium associated with the early retirement
of $2.5 million of the facility ($0.5 million).
Income before minority interest. |
Our income before minority interest increased by
$11.1 million, or 137.2%, to $19.2 million for the
year ended December 31, 2004 as compared to
$8.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. Net
margins as a percentage of revenues increased by 5.4% to 20.0%
for the year ended December 31, 2004 from 14.6% for the
year ended December 31, 2003. The increase in net income
before minority interests was a result of the
40
increase in deliveries (101 units) and corresponding gross
profit generated by those settlements ($18.3 million). This
increase was offset by the increase in sales, general and
administrative expenses ($6.2 million).
Minority interest. |
Minority interest increased by $3.0 million, or 129.0%, to
$5.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 as
compared to $2.3 million for the year ended
December 31, 2003. This increase is primarily the result of
increased income earned by Comstock Investors, VI a limited
partnership in which the minority interest partners have been
subsequently redeemed.
Income taxes |
On December 17, 2004, the Company reorganized from an
S corporation to a C corporation. For the period
December 17, 2004 to December 31, 2004 the Company
recorded a net income tax benefit of $241,000. Of this amount,
$290,000 represents the current year income tax expense on
earnings from December 17, 2004 to December 31, 2004
and $531,000 represents a deferred tax benefit arising from the
reorganization. The Companys effective tax rate net of
deferred income taxes for this period was 38.9% (1.71%). In
future periods the Company expects its effective tax rate to be
higher and the Company expects income tax expense to be a more
significant expense which will have a material impact on our net
income. We do expect to receive tax rate relief as a result of
the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We require capital to post deposits on new deals, to purchase
and develop land, to construct homes, to fund related carrying
costs and overhead and to fund various advertising and marketing
programs to facilitate sales. These expenditures include
engineering, entitlement, architecture, site preparation, roads,
water and sewer lines, impact fees and earthwork, as well as the
construction costs of the homes and amenities. Our sources of
capital include, and will continue to include, funds derived
from various secured and unsecured borrowings, operations which
include the sale of constructed homes and finished lots, and the
sale of equity securities. Our currently owned and controlled
inventory of home sites will require substantial capital to
develop and construct.
In production home building, it is common for builders such as
us to employ revolving credit facilities whereby the maximum
funding available under the facility exceeds the maximum
outstanding balance allowed at any given time. Our overall
borrowing capacity may be constrained by loan covenants which
limit the ratio of our total liabilities to our total equity.
This revolving debt will typically provide for funding of an
amount up to a pre-determined percentage of the cost of each
asset funded. The balance of the funding for that asset is
provided for by us as equity. The efficiency of revolving debt
in production home building allows us to operate with less
overall debt capital than would be required if we built each
project with long-term amortizing debt. At December 31,
2005, we had approximately $143.7 million of debt financing
and $42.2 million of cash. We believe that internally
generated cash, borrowings available under our credit facilities
and access to public debt and equity markets will provide us
with sufficient capital to meet our existing and expected
capital needs.
Credit Facilities |
At December 31, 2005, we had approximately
$178 million available under existing secured revolving
development and construction loans for planned construction and
development expenditures. A majority of our debt is variable
rate, based on LIBOR or the prime rate plus a specified number
of basis points, typically ranging from 190 to 375 basis
points over the LIBOR rate and 50 basis points over the
prime rate. As a result, we are exposed to market risk in the
area of interest rate changes. At December 31, 2005, the
one-month LIBOR and prime rates of interest were 4.39% and
7.25%, respectively, and the interest rates in effect under our
existing secured revolving development and construction credit
facilities ranged from 6.29% to 8.29%. For information regarding
risks associated with our level of debt and changes in interest
rates, see Business-Risk Factors and
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market
Risk.
41
We have generally financed our development and construction
activities on a project basis so that, for each project we
develop and build, we have a separate credit facility.
Accordingly, we have numerous credit facilities. While the loan
agreements relating to these various facilities contain certain
covenants, they generally contain few, if any, material
financial covenants. Typically, our loan agreements contain
covenants requiring us to: (1) maintain a minimum tangible
net worth, adjusted for certain items, in the amount of
$65.0 million and (2) maintain a debt to tangible net
worth below 3.5:1. As of December 31, 2005, we were in
compliance with the financial covenants set forth in our loan
agreements.
We are considering replacing our credit facilities with one or
more larger facilities, which may reduce our aggregate debt
financing costs. We would be the borrower and primary obligor
under this larger facility or facilities, and we anticipate the
indebtedness will be secured, nonrecourse and based on an
available borrowing base.
Cash Flow |
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities was
$(131.1 million) for the year ended December 31, 2005,
$11.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 and
$(32.4 million) for the year ended December 31, 2003.
In 2005, the primary source for the increase in cash used in
operating activities was attributable to increased investments
in real estate held for development and sale. In 2004, the
primary source of the increase in cash from operating activities
was attributable to increases in net income and accounts payable
which were only partially offset by increased investments in
real estate held for development and sale. In 2003, the primary
source of the decrease in cash from operating activities was
attributable to increased investment in real estate held for
development and sale which was offset by minority interest
investment and an increase in accounts payable and accrued
liabilities.
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities was
$0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2005,
$0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 and
($90,000) for the year ended December 31, 2003. In 2005,
the primary source of the increase in cash from investing
activities was attributable to the return of capital in the
amount of $1.0 million upon the redemption of the
Companys investment in TCG Fund I. In 2004, the
primary source of the increase in cash from investing activities
was attributable to cash received from the acquisition of
Comstock Service (as discussed in Note 2 and Note 4 of
the accompanying consolidated financial statements).
Net cash provided by/(used in) by financing activities was
$104.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2005,
$38.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 and
$40.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2003.
The primary source of the increases in cash from financing
activities for the period ended December 31, 2005 was
attributable to net proceeds from the Companys follow on
public offering and increased borrowings from the Companys
credit facilities The primary source of the increases in cash
from financing activities for the period ended December 31,
2004 was attributable to net proceeds received from the
Companys initial public offering which were partially
offset by distributions paid to stockholders. The primary source
of the increases in cash from financing activities for the
periods ended December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002
were the proceeds from notes payable and contributions from
minority interest shareholders.
Recent Acquisitions |
In January 2006, the Company completed the acquisition of Parker
Chandler Homes, Inc. in the Atlanta, Georgia area. The
acquisition price was approximately $10.0 million plus the
assumption of approximately $43 million in debt and the
retirement of approximately $12 million in mezzanine and
shareholder debt. The acquisition added over 1,500 lots to the
Companys inventory of controlled land.
In January 2006, the Company closed on the Commons on the Park,
a 258-unit condominium
conversion project in Reston, Virginia, formerly known as Carter
Lake. The $36.0 million acquisition was funded by a
$26 million, six-month acquisition loan facility from Bank
of America.
42
Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments |
In addition to the above financing arrangements, we have
commitments under certain contractual arrangements to make
future payments for goods and services. These commitments secure
the future rights to various assets and services to be used in
the normal course of operations. For example, we are
contractually committed to make certain minimum lease payments
for the use of property under operating lease agreements. In
accordance with current accounting rules, the future rights and
obligations pertaining to such firm commitments are not
reflected as assets or liabilities on the consolidated balance
sheet. The following table summarizes our contractual and other
obligations at December 31, 2005, and the effect such
obligations are expected to have on liquidity and cash flow in
future periods:
Payments due by period | ||||||||||||||||||||
Less than | 3-5 | More than | ||||||||||||||||||
Total | 1 Year | 1-3 Years | Years | 5 Years | ||||||||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Notes payable(1)
|
$ | 163,888 | $ | 36,270 | $ | 125,059 | $ | 2,559 | | |||||||||||
Operating leases
|
$ | 3,996 | $ | 978 | $ | 2,909 | $ | 109 | | |||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 167,884 | $ | 37,248 | $ | 127,968 | $ | 2,668 | | |||||||||||
(1) | Notes payable includes estimated interest payments based on interest rates in effect at December 31, 2005. |
Notes payable have an undefined repayment due date and are
typically due and payable as homes are settled.
We are not an obligor under, or guarantor of, any indebtedness
of any party other than for obligations entered into by the
subsidiaries of one of the now-consolidated primary holding
companies.
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements except for the
operating leases described above.
As discussed in Note 3 in the accompanying consolidated
financial statements as of December 31, 2005, the Company
has posted aggregate non-refundable deposits of
$6.9 million on $83 million worth of land purchase
options.
Seasonality and Weather
Our business is affected by seasonality with respect to orders
and deliveries. In the markets in which we operate, the primary
selling seasons are from January through May as well as
September and October. Orders in other months typically are
lower. In addition, the markets in which we operate are
four-season markets that experience significant periods of rain
and snow. Construction cycles and efforts are often adversely
affected by severe weather.
Inflation
Inflation can have a significant impact on our business
performance and the home building industry in general. Rising
costs of land, transportation costs, utility costs, materials,
labor, overhead, administrative costs and interest rates on
floating credit facilities can adversely affect our business
performance. In addition, rising costs of certain items, such as
lumber, can adversely affect the expected profitability of our
backlog. Generally, we have been able to recover any increases
in costs through increased selling prices. However, there is no
assurance we will be able to increase selling prices in the
future to cover the effects of inflation and other cost
increases.
Item 7A. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk |
Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact our
financial position, results of operations or cash flows, due to
adverse changes in financial and commodity market prices and
interest rates. We are exposed to market risk in the area of
interest rate changes. A majority of our debt is variable rate
based on LIBOR and
43
prime rate, and, therefore, affected by changes in market
interest rates. Based on current operations, as of
December 31, 2005, an increase/decrease in interest rates
of 100 basis points on our variable rate debt would have
resulted in a corresponding increase/decrease in interest
actually incurred by us of approximately $1.1 million in a
fiscal year, which would be capitalized and included in cost of
sales as homes are delivered. As a result, the effect on net
income would be deferred until the underlying units settled and
the interest was released to cost of goods sold. Changes in the
prices of commodities that are a significant component of home
construction costs, particularly lumber, may result in
unexpected short-term increases in construction costs. Because
the sales price of our homes is fixed at the time a buyer enters
into a contract to acquire a home and we generally contract to
sell our homes before construction begins, any increase in costs
in excess of those anticipated at the time of each sale may
result in lower consolidated operating income for the homes in
our backlog. We attempt to mitigate the market risks of the
price fluctuation of commodities by entering into fixed price
option contracts with our subcontractors and material suppliers
for a specified period of time, generally commensurate with the
building cycle. These contracts afford us the option to purchase
materials at fixed prices but do not obligate us to any
specified level of purchasing.
Item 8. | Financial Statements and Supplementary Data |
Reference is made to the financial statements, the notes
thereto, and the report thereon, commencing on page F-1 of this
report, which financial statements, notes, and report are
incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9. | Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure |
Not applicable.
Item 9A. | Controls and Procedures |
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We have evaluated, with the participation of our Chief Executive
Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer,
the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as
defined in
Rules 13a-15(e)
and 15d-15(e) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act)
as of December 31, 2005. Based on this evaluation, our
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief
Accounting Officer have each concluded that our disclosure
controls and procedures are effective to ensure that we record,
process, summarize, and report information required to be
disclosed by us in our quarterly reports filed under the
Exchange Act within the time periods specified by the Securities
and Exchange Commissions rules and forms and were
effective as of December 31, 2005 to ensure that
information required to be disclosed by the Company issuer in
the reports that it files or submits under the Securities
Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the
Companys management, including its principal executive and
principal financial officers, or persons performing similar
functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding
required disclosure.
Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls
We do not expect that our disclosure controls and internal
controls will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system,
no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only
reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the
control system are met. Further, the design of a control system
must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and
the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their
costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control
systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute
assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if
any, with the Company have been detected. These inherent
limitations include the realities that judgments in
decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur
because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can
be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by
collusion of two or more people or by management override of the
controls.
The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon
certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and
there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in
achieving its stated goals under all potential future
conditions; over time, a control may become inadequate because
of changes in conditions or
44
the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may
deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a
cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or
fraud may occur and may not be detected.
Managements Report on Internal Control Over Financial
Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining
adequate internal control over financial reporting for the
Comstock Building Companies Inc.
Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005,
based on criteria set forth in the framework in Internal
Control Integrated Framework issued by the Committee
of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
This evaluation included review of the documentation of
controls, evaluation of the design effectiveness of controls,
testing of the operating effectiveness of controls and a
conclusion on this evaluation. Our management determined that,
as of December 31, 2005, our internal control over
financial reporting is effective.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, has issued an audit report on managements
assessment of the Companys internal control over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2005, which is included herein.
Item 9B. | Other Information |
Not applicable.
PART III
Item 10. | Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant |
The information required by this Item relating to our directors
is incorporated herein by reference to the definitive Proxy
Statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A of the
Exchange Act for our 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The
information required by this Item relating to our executive
officers is included in Item 1, Business
Executive Officers of this report.
Item 11. | Executive Compensation |
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by
reference to the definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant
to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act for our 2006 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders.
Item 12. | Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters |
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by
reference to the definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant
to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act for our 2006 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders.
Item 13. | Certain Relationships and Related Transactions |
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by
reference to the definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant
to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act for our 2006 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders.
Item 14. | Principal Accountant Fees and Services |
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by
reference to the definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant
to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act for our 2006 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders.
45
PART IV
Item 15. | Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules |
(a) Financial Statements
(1) Financial Statements are listed in the Index to Financial Statements on page F-1 of this report. | |
(2) Schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable or because the information required to be set forth therein is included in the consolidated and combined financial statements or notes thereto. |
(b) Exhibits
Exhibit | ||||
Number | Exhibit | |||
3 | .1(2) | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation | ||
3 | .2(2) | Amended and Restated Bylaws | ||
4 | .1(1) | Specimen Stock Certificate | ||
10 | .1(1) | Lease Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2004, with Comstock Partners, L.C. | ||
10 | .2(1) | Agreement of Sublease, dated as of October 1, 2004, with Comstock Asset Management, L.C. | ||
10 | .3(1) | Loan Agreement, dated December 17, 1997, as amended, with Bank of America, N.A. | ||
10 | .4(1) | Disbursement and Construction Loan Agreement and Disbursement and Development Loan Agreement, each dated October 10, 2002 and as amended, with Branch Banking and Trust Company of Virginia | ||
10 | .5(1) | Disbursement and Construction Loan Agreement and Acquisition, Disbursement and Development Loan Agreement, each dated July 25, 2003, with Branch Banking and Trust Company of Virginia | ||
10 | .6(2) | Loan Agreement, dated January 25, 2005, with Corus Bank, N.A. | ||
10 | .7(2) | Completion Guaranty, dated January 25, 2005 in favor of Corus Bank, N.A. | ||
10 | .8(2) | Carve-Out Guaranty, dated January 25, 2005, in favor of Corus Bank, N.A. | ||
10 | .9(1) | Form of Indemnification Agreement | ||
10 | .10(1) | Form of Promissory Note to be issued to each of Christopher Clemente, Gregory Benson, James Keena and Lawrence Golub by each of Comstock Holding Company, Inc., Comstock Homes, Inc., Sunset Investment Corp., Inc. and Comstock Service Corp., Inc. | ||
10 | .11(1) | Form of Tax Indemnification Agreement to be entered into by each of Christopher Clemente, Gregory Benson, James Keena and Lawrence Golub with each of Comstock Holding Company, Inc., Comstock Homes, Inc., Sunset Investment Corp., Inc. and Comstock Service Corp., Inc. | ||
10 | .12(1) | 2004 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan | ||
10 | .13(1) | Form of Stock Option Agreement under the 2004 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan | ||
10 | .14(2) | Form of Restricted Stock Grant Agreement under the 2004 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan | ||
10 | .15(1) | Employee Stock Purchase Plan | ||
10 | .16(1) | Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of April 25, 2003, as amended, with Crescent Potomac Yard Development, LLC | ||
10 | .17(2) | Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of November 9, 2004, as amended, with Fair Oaks Penderbrook Apartments L.L.C. | ||
10 | .18(2) | Real Estate Purchase Contract, dated as of February 4, 2005, with Westwick Apartments LLC | ||
10 | .19(2) | Services Agreement, dated March 4, 2005, with Comstock Asset Management, L.C. | ||
10 | .20(1) | Employment Agreement with Christopher Clemente | ||
10 | .21(1) | Employment Agreement with Gregory Benson | ||
10 | .22(1) | Employment Agreement with Bruce Labovitz | ||
10 | .23(1) | Confidentiality and Non-Competition Agreement with Christopher Clemente | ||
10 | .24(1) | Confidentiality and Non-Competition Agreement with Gregory Benson | ||
10 | .25(1) | Confidentiality and Non-Competition Agreement with Bruce Labovitz |
46
Exhibit | ||||
Number | Exhibit | |||
10 | .26(2) | Description of Arrangements with William Bensten | ||
10 | .27(2) | Description of Arrangements with David Howell | ||
10 | .28(1) | Trademark License Agreement | ||
10 | .29(2) | Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2004 with Comstock Asset Management, L.C. | ||
10 | .30(3) | Agreement of Purchase and Sale, dated June 23, 2005, by and between Comstock Carter Lake, L.C. and E.R. Carter, L.L.C. | ||
10 | .31(3) | Agreement of Purchase and Sale, dated September 28, 2005, by and between Comstock Bellemeade, L.C. and Bellemeade Farms Investors, LLC et. al. | ||
10 | .32(3) | Loan Agreement, dated September 28, 2005, by and between Comstock Bellemeade, L.C. and Bank of America, N.A. | ||
10 | .33(3) | Guaranty Agreement, dated September 28, 2005, by the Registrant in favor of Bank of America, N.A. | ||
10 | .34(4) | Life Insurance Reimbursement Agreement with William P. Bensten | ||
10 | .35(4) | Life Insurance Reimbursement Agreement with Bruce Labovitz | ||
10 | .36(4) | Description of Reimbursement and Indemnification Arrangement with Christopher Clemente and Gregory Benson | ||
10 | .37(3) | Agreement of Purchase and Sale, dated June 23, 2005, by and between Comstock Carter Lake, L.C. and E.R. Carter, L.L.C. | ||
10 | .38* | Stock Purchase Agreement with Parker-Chandler Homes, Inc. and the Selling Stockholders identified therein, dated as of January 19, 2006 | ||
10 | .39* | Loan Agreement, dated January 31, 2006, by and between Comstock Carter Lake, L.C. and Bank of America, N.A. | ||
10 | .40* | Guaranty Agreement, dated January 31, 2006m by the Registrant in favor of Bank of America, N.A. | ||
14 | .1(2) | Code of Ethics | ||
21 | .1* | List of subsidiaries | ||
23 | .1* | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP | ||
24 | .1 | Power of Attorney (see signature page to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.) | ||
31 | .1* | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | ||
31 | .2* | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | ||
32 | .1* | Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
* | Filed herewith. |
(1) | Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registrants Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, initially filed with the Commission on August 13, 2004 (No. 333-118193). |
(2) | Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registrants Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 31, 2005. |
(3) | Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registrants Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on November 14, 2005. |
(4) | Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registrants Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on August 9, 2005. |
47
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Page | ||||
COMSTOCK HOMEBUILDING COMPANIES, INC.
|
||||
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
F-2 | |||
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2005 and 2004
|
F-4 | |||
Consolidated and Combined Statements of Operations for the Years
Ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2002
|
F-5 | |||
Consolidated and Combined Statements of Changes in
Shareholders Equity for the Years Ended December 31,
2005, 2004, and 2003
|
F-6 | |||
Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows for the Years
Ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003
|
F-7 | |||
Notes to Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements
|
F-8 |
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Comstock
Homebuilding Companies, Inc.
We have completed an integrated audit of Comstock Homebuilding
Companies, Inc.s 2005 consolidated financial statements
and of its internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2005 and audits of its 2004 and 2003
consolidated and combined financial statements in accordance
with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (United States). Our opinions, based on our audits, are
presented below.
Consolidated financial statements
In our opinion, the consolidated and combined financial
statements listed in the accompanying index present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Comstock
Homebuilding Companies, Inc. at December 31, 2005 and 2004,
and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of
the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005 in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Companys management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these
statements in accordance with the standards of the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those
standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are
free of material misstatement. An audit of financial statements
includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the
amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing
the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, and evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable
basis for our opinion.
Internal control over financial reporting
Also, in our opinion, managements assessment, included in
Managements Report on Internal Control Over Financial
Reporting appearing under Item 9A, that the Company
maintained effective internal control over financial reporting
as of December 31, 2005 based on criteria established in
Internal Control Integrated Framework issued
by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (COSO), is fairly stated, in all material respects,
based on those criteria. Furthermore, in our opinion, the
Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005,
based on criteria established in Internal Control
Integrated Framework issued by the COSO. The Companys
management is responsible for maintaining effective internal
control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our
responsibility is to express opinions on managements
assessment and on the effectiveness of the Companys
internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We
conducted our audit of internal control over financial reporting
in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards
require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether effective internal control over
financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. An
audit of internal control over financial reporting includes
obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial
reporting, evaluating managements assessment, testing and
evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal
control, and performing such other procedures as we consider
necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit
provides a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A companys internal control over financial reporting is a
process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles. A companys
internal control over financial reporting includes those
policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance
of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly
reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the
company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of
financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the
company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of
management and directors of the
F-2
company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding
prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use,
or disposition of the companys assets that could have a
material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over
financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.
Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future
periods are subject to the risk that controls may become
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree
of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
McLean, Virginia
March 15, 2006
F-3
COMSTOCK HOMEBUILDING COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands, except share data)
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents
|
$ | 42,167 | $ | 67,559 | ||||||
Restricted cash
|
10,800 | 7,500 | ||||||||
Receivables
|
6,365 | 239 | ||||||||
Note receivables
|
1,250 | | ||||||||
Due from related parties
|
2,899 | 1,447 | ||||||||
Real estate held for development and sale
|
263,802 | 104,326 | ||||||||
Inventory not owned variable interest entities
|
89,890 | 118,558 | ||||||||
Property, plant and equipment
|
605 | 488 | ||||||||
Investment in real estate partnerships
|
(35 | ) | 1,029 | |||||||
Deferred income tax
|
2,545 | 821 | ||||||||
Other assets
|
11,031 | 2,540 | ||||||||
TOTAL ASSETS
|
$ | 431,319 | $ | 304,507 | ||||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY | ||||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
59,131 | $ | 35,532 | |||||||
Income taxes payable
|
| 290 | ||||||||
Due to related parties
|
40 | 148 | ||||||||
Obligations related to inventory not owned
|
83,015 | 114,333 | ||||||||
Notes payable
|
142,994 | 65,684 | ||||||||
Notes payable related parties
|
663 | 10,944 | ||||||||
Distribution payable
|
| 12,655 | ||||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES
|
285,843 | 239,586 | ||||||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)
|
||||||||||
Minority interest
|
400 | 2,695 | ||||||||
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
|
||||||||||
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value,
77,266,500 shares authorized, 11,532,442 and 9,160,608
issued and outstanding
|
115 | 92 | ||||||||
Class B common stock, $0.01 par value,
2,733,500 shares authorized, 2,733,500 issued and
outstanding
|
27 | 27 | ||||||||
Additional paid-in capital
|
126,461 | 71,196 | ||||||||
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)
|
18,473 | (9,089 | ) | |||||||
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
|
145,076 | 62,226 | ||||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
|
$ | 431,319 | $ | 304,507 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
F-4
COMSTOCK HOMEBUILDING COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(Amounts in thousands, except share data)
Twelve Months Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | |||||||||||
Revenues
|
|||||||||||||
Sale of real estate Homes
|
$ | 216,265 | $ | 87,003 | $ | 49,081 | |||||||
Other revenue
|
8,040 | 9,042 | 6,440 | ||||||||||
Total revenue
|
224,305 | 96,045 | 55,521 | ||||||||||
Expenses
|
|||||||||||||
Cost of sales of real estate
|
154,102 | 57,339 | 36,620 | ||||||||||
Cost of sales of other
|
3,604 | 6,654 | 5,136 | ||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative
|
24,190 | 11,940 | 5,712 | ||||||||||
Operating income
|
42,409 | 20,112 | 8,053 | ||||||||||
Other (income) expense, net
|
(1,450 | ) | 908 | (44 | ) | ||||||||
Income before minority interest and equity in earnings of real
estate partnerships
|
43,859 | 19,204 | 8,097 | ||||||||||
Minority interest
|
30 | 5,260 | 2,297 | ||||||||||
Income before equity in earnings of real estate partnerships
|
43,829 | 13,944 | 5,800 | ||||||||||
Equity in earnings of real estate partnerships
|
99 | 118 | 139 | ||||||||||
Total pre tax income
|
43,928 | 14,062 | 5,939 | ||||||||||
Income Taxes
|
16,366 | (241 | ) | | |||||||||
Net Income
|
$ | 27,562 | $ | 14,303 | $ | 5,939 | |||||||
Basic earnings per share
|
2.14 | 1.95 | 0.84 | ||||||||||
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
|
12,870 | 7,347 | 7,067 | ||||||||||
Diluted earnings per share
|
2.12 | 1.95 | 0.84 | ||||||||||
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
|
13,022 | 7,351 | 7,067 | ||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated and combined financial statements.
F-5
COMSTOCK HOMEBUILDING COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
(Amounts in thousands, except share data)
Comstock Homebuilding | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Companies, Inc. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Comstock | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Companies Common stock | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A | Class B | Additional | Retained | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Paid-In | earnings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Capital | (deficit) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31,
2002 |
3,558 | $ | 3 | | $ | | | $ | | $ | 1,493 | $ | 2,111 | $ | 3,607 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions
|
| | | (2,521 | ) | (2,521 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Income
|
| | | 5,939 | 5,939 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31,
2003 |
3,558 | 3 | | | | | 1,493 | 5,529 | 7,025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions
|
| | | (5,668 | ) | (5,668 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock in Homebuilding on June 7, 2004
|
| | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Recapitalization by virtue of merger
|
(3,558 | ) | (3 | ) | 4,333 | 43 | 2,733 | 27 | 4 | 71 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Acquisition of Service on December 17, 2004
|
4,756 | 4,756 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock of Homebuilding on December 17,
2004 (less transaction costs)
|
3,960 | 40 | 56,012 | 56,052 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock overallotment
|
594 | 6 | 8,833 | 8,839 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distribution following IPO
|
(23,253 | ) | (23,253 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of restricted common stock
|
275 | 3 | (3 | ) | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation
|
101 | 101 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income
|
| | | 14,303 | 14,303 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31,
2004 |
| | 9,162 | 92 | 2,733 | 27 | 71,196 | (9,089 | ) | 62,226 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Income
|
27,562 | 27,562 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock compensation and issuances
|
3 | 0 | | | 2,346 | | 2,346 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plans
|
8 | 0 | | | 133 | | 133 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuances of common stock in follow on offering on June 22,
2005 (less transactions costs)
|
| | 2,360 | 23 | | | 52,786 | | 52,809 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2005
|
| $ | | 11,533 | $ | 115 | 2,733 | $ | 27 | $ | 126,461 | $ | 18,473 | $ | 145,076 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated and combined financial statements.
F-6
COMSTOCK HOMEBUILDING COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in thousands, except share data)
Twelve Months Ended December 30, | ||||||||||||||||
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | ||||||||||||||
Cash flows from operating activities:
|
||||||||||||||||
Net income
|
$ | 27,562 | $ | 14,303 | $ | 5,939 | ||||||||||
Adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities
|
||||||||||||||||
Depreciation
|
172 | 106 | 67 | |||||||||||||
Loss on disposal of assets
|
9 | 1 | | |||||||||||||
Minority interest
|
30 | 5,260 | 2,297 | |||||||||||||
Equity in earnings of real estate partnerships
|
(99 | ) | (118 | ) | (139 | ) | ||||||||||
Distributions from investment in real estate partnerships
|
163 | 120 | 157 | |||||||||||||
Amortization of stock compensation
|
2,346 | 101 | | |||||||||||||
Deferred income tax
|
(1,724 | ) | (531 | ) | | |||||||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||||||||||
Restricted Cash
|
(3,300 | ) | (7,500 | ) | | |||||||||||
Receivables
|
(6,126 | ) | 2,107 | (1,736 | ) | |||||||||||
Note Receivables
|
(1,250 | ) | | | ||||||||||||
Due from related parties
|
(1,452 | ) | 1,693 | (1,832 | ) | |||||||||||
Real estate held for development and sale
|
(159,476 | ) | (23,081 | ) | (44,260 | ) | ||||||||||
Other assets
|
(11,141 | ) | (5,428 | ) | 1,005 | |||||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
23,599 | 24,025 | 6,237 | |||||||||||||
Income tax payable
|
(290 | ) | 290 | | ||||||||||||
Due to related parties
|
(108 | ) | (82 | ) | (24 | ) | ||||||||||
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
|
(131,085 | ) | 11,266 | (32,289 | ) | |||||||||||
Cash flows from investing activities:
|
||||||||||||||||
Purchase of property, plant, and equipment
|
(298 | ) | (372 | ) | (90 | ) | ||||||||||
Distributions of capital from investments in real estate
partnerships
|
1,000 | | | |||||||||||||
Acquisition of Comstock Service
|
| 1,215 | | |||||||||||||
Net cash provided by investing activities
|
702 | 843 | (90 | ) | ||||||||||||
Cash flows from financing activities:
|
||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from notes payable
|
212,408 | 81,747 | 74,521 | |||||||||||||
Proceeds from related party notes payable
|
444 | 4,646 | 6,300 | |||||||||||||
Payments on notes payable
|
(135,098 | ) | (78,716 | ) | (37,782 | ) | ||||||||||
Payments on related party notes payable
|
(10,725 | ) | (6,000 | ) | | |||||||||||
Contribution from minority shareholders
|
87 | | 2,000 | |||||||||||||
Payment of distribution payable
|
(12,655 | ) | | | ||||||||||||
Distributions paid to minority shareholders
|
(2,412 | ) | (14,181 | ) | (1,674 | ) | ||||||||||
Distributions paid to shareholders
|
| (14,168 | ) | (2,521 | ) | |||||||||||
Proceeds from shares issued under employee stock purchase plan
|
133 | | | |||||||||||||
Net proceeds from offerings
|
52,809 | 64,962 | | |||||||||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
104,991 | 38,290 | 40,844 | |||||||||||||
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
(25,392 | ) | 50,399 | 8,465 | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
|
67,559 | 17,160 | 8,695 | |||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
|
$ | 42,167 | $ | 67,559 | $ | 17,160 | ||||||||||
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
|
||||||||||||||||
Income taxes paid
|
$ | 23,044 | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these combined
consolidated financial statements.
F-7
COMSTOCK HOMEBUILDING COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, unless otherwise indicated)
1. | ORGANIZATION |
Comstock Companies, Inc. (the Company) was
incorporated on May 24, 2004 as a Delaware corporation. On
June 30, 2004, the Company changed its name to Comstock
Homebuilding Companies, Inc.
On December 17, 2004 as a result of completing its initial
public offering (IPO) of its Class A Common
Stock, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding capital
stock of Comstock Holding Company, Inc. and subsidiaries
(Comstock Holdings) by merger, which followed a
consolidation that took place immediately prior to the closing
of the IPO (the Consolidation). The Consolidation
was effected through the mergers of Sunset Investment Corp.,
Inc. and subsidiaries and Comstock Homes, Inc. and subsidiaries
and Comstock Service Corp., Inc and subsidiaries (Comstock
Service) with and into Comstock Holdings. Pursuant to the
terms of the merger agreement, shares of Comstock Holdings were
canceled and replaced by 4,333 and 2,734 shares
Class A and B Common Stock of the Company, respectively.
Both Class A and B Common Stock shares bear the same
economic rights. However for voting purposes, Class A stock
holders are entitled to one vote for each share held while
Class B stock holders are entitled to fifteen votes for
each share held.
The mergers of Sunset Investment Corp., Inc. and subsidiaries
and Comstock Homes, Inc. and subsidiaries with and into Comstock
Holdings (collectively The Comstock Companies or
Predecessor) and the Companys acquisition of
Comstock Holdings was accounted for using the Comstock
Companies historical carrying values of accounting as
these mergers were not deemed to be substantive exchanges. The
merger of Comstock Service was accounted using the purchase
method of accounting (see Note 2) as this was deemed to be
a substantive exchange due to the disparity in ownership.
The Predecessor is not a legal entity but rather a combination
of entities that have a high degree of common ownership, common
management, and common corporate governance that resulted in
substantially the same ownership as the Comstock Companies
before and after the transaction, and therefore these combined
financial statements present the combined historical operations
of the Company.
As a result of the IPO, the Company sold 3,960 Class A
Common Shares at $16.00 per share, raising proceeds, net of
the underwriting discount, of approximately $56.0 million.
On December 28, 2004, pursuant to the underwriters
exercise of their over-allotment option, the Company sold an
additional 594 shares resulting in additional proceeds, net
of underwriting discount, of approximately $8.8 million.
On June 22, 2005 the Company completed a follow-on offering
in which 2,360 shares of Class A Common stock were
sold to the public at a price of $23.90 per share. The
offering resulted in total proceeds to the Company, net of
underwriting discounts, of approximately $52.8 million.
Our Class A common stock is traded on the NASDAQ National
market under the symbol CHCI. We have no public
trading history prior to December 14, 2004.
For purposes of identification and description, we are referred
to as the Predecessor for the period prior to the
IPO, the Company for the period subsequent to the IPO, and
we, us, and our for both
periods.
The Company develops, builds and markets single-family homes,
townhouses and condominiums in the Washington D.C. and North
Carolina metropolitan markets. The Company also provides certain
management and administrative support services to certain
related parties.
F-8
2. | SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
A summary of the significant accounting principles and practices
used in the preparation of the consolidated and combined
financial statements is as follows:
Basis of Presentation
As discussed in Note 1, the Company and the Predecessor
effected the Consolidation on December 17, 2004. The
Company and the Predecessor were entities that had a high degree
of common ownership, common management, and common corporate
governance as they were owned by the same individuals each
holding substantially the same ownership. As a result, the
Company has determined that, based on the high degree of common
ownership that resulted in substantially the same ownership
interests before and after the transaction, the common nature of
the businesses, the long-term business relationships between the
companies and other related factors, the exchange lacked
substance and therefore, they accounted for the Consolidation on
a historical cost basis in accordance with FASB Technical
Bulletin (FTB 85-5, Issues Related to Accounting of
Business Combination.) Further, SFAS 141
Business Combinations states that, in transactions
between parties under common control, the receiving entity
should account for the assets and liabilities received at their
historical carrying values. Additionally, such transfers should
be accounted for by the receiving entity as of the beginning of
the period in which the transaction occurs. Accordingly, the
Company has reflected the assets and liabilities acquired in the
transaction at their historical carrying values and the results
of operations are presented as if the transaction occurred on
January 1, 2004. The accompanying combined statements of
operations, changes in stockholders equity and cash flows
for the year ended December 31, 2003 are those of the
Predecessor.
As further discussed in Note 4, the Predecessor merged with
Comstock Service on December 17, 2004. Due to a disparity
in ownership as compared to the other entities which comprised
the Predecessor, Comstock Service was not under common control
with the Predecessor and as such the consolidation transaction
was considered a substantive exchange. Accordingly, the Company
has accounted for the consolidation of Comstock Service as an
acquisition using the purchase method of accounting as required
by SFAS 141. As a result, the assets and liabilities
acquired have been recorded at the fair values in the
accompanying financial statements on the date of the
transaction. No goodwill was recognized in connection with this
transaction.
Principles of
consolidation
The consolidated and combined financial statements include all
controlled subsidiaries. In addition, the Company reviews its
relationships with other entities to assess whether the Company
is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. If the
determination is made that the Company is the primary
beneficiary, then that entity is consolidated. See the
Recent accounting pronouncements section of this
Note and Note 3 for additional discussion on the
consolidation of variable interest entities. All material
inter-company balances and transactions are eliminated in
consolidation.
Cash and cash
equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents are comprised of cash and short-term
investments with maturities when purchased of three months or
less. At times, the Company may have deposits with institutions
in excess of federally insured limits. Banking institutions with
which the Company does business are considered credit worthy;
therefore, credit risk associated with cash and cash equivalents
is considered low. At December 31, 2005, the Company had
restricted cash of $10,800, which primarily includes certain
customer deposits related to home sales.
Receivables
Receivables include amounts in transit or due from title and
settlement companies for residential property closings. The
Company has determined that no allowance for uncollectibility is
required at December 31, 2005 and 2004 based on a review of
the individual accounts.
F-9
Real estate held for
development and sale
Real estate held for development and sale includes land, land
development costs, interest and other construction costs and is
stated at cost or, when circumstances or events indicate that
the real estate held for development or sale is impaired, at
estimated fair value.
Land, land development and indirect land development costs are
accumulated by specific area and allocated to various lots or
housing units using specific identification and allocation based
upon the relative sales value, unit or area methods. Direct
construction costs are assigned to housing units based on
specific identification. Construction costs primarily include
direct construction costs and capitalized field overhead. Other
costs are comprised of prepaid local government fees and
capitalized interest and real estate taxes. Selling costs are
expensed as incurred.
Estimated fair value is based on comparable sales of real estate
in the normal course of business under existing and anticipated
market conditions. The evaluation takes into consideration the
current status of the property, various restrictions, carrying
costs, costs of disposition and any other circumstances, which
may affect fair value including managements plans for the
property. Due to the large acreage of certain land holdings,
disposition in the normal course of business is expected to
extend over a number of years. A write-down to estimated fair
value is recorded when the carrying value of the property
exceeds its estimated fair value. These evaluations are made on
a property-by-property basis. The Company assesses the
impairment of real estate assets whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the net book value may not be
recoverable. As discussed in Note 5 the Company recorded an
impairment charge of $1.2 million during the fourth quarter
of 2005.
Capitalized interest and
real estate taxes
Interest and real estate taxes incurred relating to the
development of lots and parcels are capitalized to real estate
held for development and sale during the active development
period, which generally commences when borrowings are used to
acquire real estate assets and ends when the properties are
substantially complete. Interest is capitalized based on the
interest rate applicable to specific borrowings or the weighted
average of the rates applicable to other borrowings during the
period. Interest and real estate taxes capitalized to real
estate held for development and sale are expensed as a component
of cost of sales as related units are sold.
The following table is a summary of interest incurred and
capitalized:
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | ||||||||||
Total interest incurred
|
12,272 | $ | 4,686 | $ | 1,944 | |||||||
Beginning interest capitalized
|
$ | 4,524 | $ | 1,428 | $ | 586 | ||||||
Plus: Interest incurred on notes payable
|
11,752 | 2,847 | 1,782 | |||||||||
Plus: Interest incurred on related party notes payable
|
310 | 1,461 | 154 | |||||||||
Less: Interest expensed as a component of cost of sales
|
(4,996 | ) | (1,212 | ) | (1,094 | ) | ||||||
Ending interest capitalized
|
$ | 11,590 | $ | 4,524 | $ | 1,428 | ||||||
Environmental remediation
costs
Development and sale of real estate property creates a potential
for environmental liability. Environmental costs relating to
land and properties under development are capitalized and
charged to cost of sales when sold. Environmental costs incurred
in connection with properties previously sold are expensed in
the period when identified.
F-10
Property, plant, and
equipment
Property, plant, and equipment are carried at cost less
accumulated depreciation and are depreciated on the
straight-line method over their estimated useful lives as
follows:
Furniture and equipment
|
7 years | |||
Computer equipment
|
3 years | |||
Office equipment
|
7 years |
Provisions for impairment are recorded when estimated future
cash flows from operations and projected sales proceeds are less
than the net carrying value. When assets are retired or
otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are
removed from their separate accounts and any gain or loss on
sale is reflected in operations. Expenditures for maintenance
and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.
Investment in real estate
partnerships
Real estate partnerships in which the Company has significant
influence and is not the primary beneficiary under FIN 46,
but less than a controlling interest, are accounted for under
the equity method. Under the equity method, the Companys
initial investment is recorded at cost and is subsequently
adjusted to recognize its share of earnings and losses.
Distributions received reduce the carrying amount of the
investment.
Warranty reserve
Warranty reserves for houses sold are established to cover
potential costs for materials and labor with regard to
warranty-type claims expected to arise during the one-year
warranty period provided by the Company or within the five-year
statutorily mandated structural warranty period. Since the
Company subcontracts its homebuilding work, subcontractors are
required to provide the Company with an indemnity and a
certificate of insurance prior to receiving payments for their
work. Claims relating to workmanship and materials are generally
the primary responsibility of the subcontractors and product
manufacturers. The warranty reserve is established at the time
of closing, and is calculated based upon historical warranty
cost experience and current business factors. Variables used in
the calculation of the reserve, as well as the adequacy of the
reserve based on the number of homes still under warranty, are
reviewed on a periodic basis. Warranty claims are directly
charged to the reserve as they arise. The following table is a
summary of warranty reserve activity which is included in
accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | ||||||||||
Balance at beginning of period
|
$ | 916 | $ | 541 | $ | 460 | ||||||
Additions
|
888 | 823 | 344 | |||||||||
Releases and/or charges incurred
|
(598 | ) | (448 | ) | (263 | ) | ||||||
Balance at end of period
|
$ | 1,206 | $ | 916 | $ | 541 | ||||||
Minority interest
Minority interest reflects third parties ownership
interest in entities the Company has consolidated.
Revenue recognition
The Company recognizes revenues and related profits from the
sale of residential properties and finished lots when closing
has occurred, full payment has been received, title and
possession of the property transfer to the buyer and the Company
has no significant continuing involvement in the property.
Other revenues are derived from management and administrative
support services provided to related parties, which are
recognized as the services are provided.
F-11
Advertising costs
The total amount of advertising costs charged to general,
selling and administrative expense was $1,602, $863, and $391
for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003,
respectively.
Stock compensation
As discussed in Note 14, the Company currently sponsors
stock option plans and restricted stock award plans. Prior to
December 14, 2004, the Company did not sponsor any such
plans. Effective January 1, 2004, the Company prospectively
adopted SFAS No. 123R (revised 2004),
Share-Based Payment (SFAS 123R),
which replaces SFAS No. 123, Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation (SFAS 123) and
supercedes APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock
Issued to Employees. SFAS 123R requires all
share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee
stock options, to be recognized in the financial statements over
the vesting period based on their fair values at the date of
grant. A portion of the costs associated with stock-based
compensation is capitalized to real estate held for development
and sale, with the remainder allocated to selling, general and
administrative expenses.
Income taxes
Prior to December 17, 2004 the Predecessor Company had
elected to be treated as an S corporation under Subchapter
S of the Internal Revenue Code and therefore was not subject to
income taxes. Taxable income or loss was passed through and
reported by the individual shareholders. Subsequent to the
Consolidation the company was reorganized as a C corporation
under which income taxes are accounted for under the asset and
liability method in accordance with SFAS 109
Accounting for Income Taxes. Deferred tax assets and
liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences
attributable to differences between the financial statement
carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their
respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are
measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable
income in the years in which those temporary differences are
expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on the deferred
tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is
recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment
date.
Earnings per share
The following weighted average shares and share equivalents are
used to calculate basic and diluted EPS for the years ended
December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003:
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | |||||||||||
Basic earnings per share
|
|||||||||||||
Net Income
|
$ | 27,562 | $ | 14,303 | $ | 5,939 | |||||||
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding
|
12,870 | 7,347 | 7,067 | ||||||||||
Per share amounts
|
$ | 2.14 | $ | 1.95 | $ | 0.84 | |||||||
Dilutive Earnings Per Share
|
|||||||||||||
Net Income
|
$ | 27,562 | $ | 14,303 | $ | 5,939 | |||||||
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding
|
12,870 | 7,347 | 7,067 | ||||||||||
Stock options and restricted stock grants
|
152 | 4 | | ||||||||||
Dilutive weighted-average shares outstanding
|
13,022 | 7,351 | 7,067 | ||||||||||
Per share amounts
|
$ | 2.12 | $ | 1.95 | $ | 0.84 | |||||||
F-12
Shares issued to the owners of the Predecessor in exchange for
their interests in connection with the Consolidation have been
reflected in weighted average shares as of the beginning of the
earliest period presented.
Comprehensive income
For the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003,
comprehensive income equaled net income; therefore, a separate
statement of comprehensive income is not included in the
accompanying combined consolidated financial statements.
Segment reporting
Since the Company operates primarily in a single extended
geographical market with similar products at its various
development projects, it is considered to represent a single
reportable segment for financial reporting purposes.
Use of estimates
The preparation of the financial statements, in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America, requires management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements and
accompanying notes amounts. Actual results could differ from
those estimates. Material estimates are utilized in the
valuation of real estate held for development and sale,
capitalization of costs, consolidation of variable interest
entities and warranty reserves.
Recent accounting
pronouncements
On June 29, 2005, the Emerging Issues Task Force
(EITF) reached a consensus on EITF Issue
No. 04-05, Determining Whether a General Partner, or
the General Partners as a Group, Controls a Limited Partnership
or Similar Entity When the Limited Partners Have Certain
Rights
(EITF 04-05).
The scope of
EITF 04-05 is
limited to limited partnerships or similar entities (such as
limited liability companies that have governing provisions that
are the functional equivalent of a limited partnership) that are
not variable interest entities under FIN 46 and provides a
new framework for addressing when a general partner in a limited
partnership, or managing member in the case of a limited
liability company, controls the entity. Under
EITF 04-05, we may
be required to consolidate certain investments, that are not
variable interest entities, in which we hold a general partner
or managing member interest.
EITF 04-05 is
effective after June 29, 2005 for new entities formed after
such date and for existing entities for which the agreements are
subsequently modified and is effective for our fiscal year
beginning January 1, 2006 for all other entities. The
adoption of
EITF 04-05 did not
have any impact on our financial statements as of
December 31, 2005.
FAS 154 Accounting Changes and Error
Corrections replace APB Opinion No. 20, and FASB
Statement No. 3. Opinion 20 previously required that most
voluntary changes in accounting principle be recognized by
including in net income of the period of the change the
cumulative effect of changing to the new accounting principle.
This Statement requires retrospective application to prior
periods financial statements of changes in accounting
principle, unless it is impracticable to determine either the
period-specific effects or the cumulative effect of the change.
When it is impracticable to determine the period-specific
effects of an accounting change on one or more individual prior
periods presented, this Statement requires that the new
accounting principle be applied to the balances of assets and
liabilities as of the beginning of the earliest period for which
retrospective application is practicable and that a
corresponding adjustment be made to the opening balance of
retained earnings (or other appropriate components of equity or
net assets in the statement of financial position) for that
period rather than being reported in an income statement. When
it is impracticable to determine the cumulative effect of
applying a change in accounting principle to all prior periods,
this Statement requires that the new accounting principle be
applied as if it were adopted prospectively from the earliest
date practicable.
F-13
3. | CONSOLIDATION OF VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES |
The Company typically acquires land for development at market
prices from various entities under fixed price purchase
agreements. The purchase agreements require deposits that may be
forfeited if the Company fails to perform under the agreement.
The deposits required under the purchase agreements are in the
form of cash or letters of credit in varying amounts. The
Company may, at its option, choose for any reason and at any
time not to perform under these purchase agreements by
delivering notice of its intent not to acquire the land under
contract. The Companys sole legal obligation and economic
loss for failure to perform under these purchase agreements is
typically limited to the amount of the deposit pursuant to the
liquidated damages provision contained within the purchase
agreement. As a result, none of the creditors of any of the
entities with which the Company enters into forward fixed price
purchase agreements have recourse to the general credit of the
Company. The Company also does not share in an allocation of
either the profit earned or loss incurred by any of these
entities with which the Company enters fixed price purchase
agreements.
The Company has concluded that whenever it options land or lots
from an entity and pays a significant non-refundable deposit as
described above, a variable interest entity is created under the
provisions of
FIN 46-R. This is
because the Company has been deemed to have provided
subordinated financial support, which refers to variable
interest that will absorb some or all of an entitys
expected theoretical losses if they occur. The Company therefore
examines the entities with which the Company enters into fixed
price purchase agreements, for possible consolidation by the
Company under FIN 46-R. This requires the Company to
compute expected losses and expected residual returns based on
the probability of future cash flows as outlined in
FIN 46-R. This calculation requires substantial management
judgments and estimates. In addition, because the Company does
not have any contractual or ownership interests in the entities
with which it contracts to buy the land, the Company does not
have the ability to compel these development entities to provide
financial or other data to assist the Company in the performance
of the primary beneficiary evaluation.
The Company has evaluated all of its fixed price purchase
agreements and has determined that it is the primary beneficiary
of some of those entities. As a result, at December 31,
2005 and 2004 the Company has consolidated five entities each
year in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The effect
of the consolidation at December 31, 2005 and 2004 was the
inclusion of $89,890 and $118,558, respectively, in
Inventory not owned Variable Interest
Entities with a corresponding inclusion of $83,015 (net of
land deposits paid of $6,875) and $114,333 (net of land deposits
paid of $4,225), respectively, to Obligations related to
inventory not owned. Creditors, if any, of these Variable
Interest Entities have no recourse against the Company.
4. | ACQUISITIONS |
As discussed in Note 1, the Company on December 17,
2004, merged Comstock Service into Comstock Holdings. The
acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method and,
accordingly, the purchase price was allocated to assets acquired
and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair value on
the acquisition date.
Pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement, shares of
Comstock Service were canceled and replaced by shares of
Comstock Holding. (As discussed in Note 1)
F-14
The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the
assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of
acquisition.
Cash
|
$ | 1,216 | ||
Notes receivable
|
2,506 | |||
Real estate held for development and sale
|
19,338 | |||
Other assets
|
25 | |||
Total assets acquired
|
23,085 | |||
Less: Accounts payable
|
(1,052 | ) | ||
Less: Notes payable
|
(13,889 | ) | ||
Less: Minority interest
|
(2,717 | ) | ||
Less: Other liabilities
|
(671 | ) | ||
Net assets acquired
|
$ | 4,756 | ||
Additionally, in 2004, the Company purchased certain
noncontrolling minority interests in its consolidated
subsidiaries for a total of $900. The net excess of the fair
value over the book value of $226 was allocated to the related
subsidiarys assets, primarily work in process.
The selected unaudited pro forma consolidated information for
the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, determined as
if the acquisition, described above, had occurred on
January 1, of each year as follows:
Proforma (unaudited) | ||||||||
Years Ended | ||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||
2004 | 2003 | |||||||
Revenues
|
$ | 102,135 | $ | 62,359 | ||||
Operating income
|
19,456 | 8,695 | ||||||
Other (income) expense, net
|
1,018 | (70 | ) | |||||
Income before minority interest and equity in earnings of real
estate partnerships
|
18,438 | 8,765 | ||||||
Minority interest
|
5,157 | 3,713 | ||||||
Income before equity in earnings of real estate partnerships
|
13,281 | 5,052 | ||||||
Equity in earnings of real estate partnerships
|
118 | 139 | ||||||
Net Income before income taxes
|
$ | 13,399 | $ | 5,191 | ||||
The selected unaudited pro forma information is presented for
illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of
results of operations in future periods or results that would
have been achieved had the Company and the acquired business
been combined during the specified periods.
5. | REAL ESTATE HELD FOR DEVELOPMENT AND SALE |
Real estate held for development and sale consists of the
following:
December 31, | ||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Land and land development costs
|
$ | 119,530 | $ | 65,545 | ||||
Cost of construction (including capitalized interest and real
estate taxes)
|
144,272 | 38,781 | ||||||
$ | 263,802 | $ | 104,326 | |||||
The Company performs an evaluation for impairment whenever
events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying
amount of long-lived assets or intangible assets with finite
lives may not be recoverable. These assets are written down to
fair value if the sum of the expected future undiscounted cash
F-15
flows is less than the carrying amounts. During the fourth
quarter of 2005 the Company experienced lower than expected
absorption and sales traffic rates, which resulted in increased
carrying costs, in certain projects in North Carolina. The
Company considered this a triggering event as
defined by FAS 144 and evaluated its carrying amounts related to
its projects in North Carolina. As a result, the Company
recorded a $1.2 million impairment charge on the carrying
value of real estate held for development and sale at
Kelton II, a townhouse community in Raleigh, North
Carolina. The charge is included as a component of cost of sales
on the accompanying statement of operations. The impairment was
calculated using a discounted cash flow analysis model. This
analysis is dependent on many subjective factors, including the
selection of appropriate discount and absorbtion rates. The cash
flow estimates used by the Company are based on the best
information available at the time the estimates are made.
Significant adverse changes in circumstances affecting these
estimates and assumptions in future periods could cause a
significant impairment adjustment to be recorded.
6. | PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT, NET |
Property, plant, and equipment consist of the following:
December 31, | ||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Computer equipment
|
$ | 540 | $ | 498 | ||||
Furniture and fixtures
|
296 | 152 | ||||||
Office equipment
|
243 | 271 | ||||||
1,079 | 921 | |||||||
Less: accumulated depreciation
|
474 | 433 | ||||||
$ | 605 | $ | 488 | |||||
Depreciation expense, included in selling, general, and
administrative in the consolidated and combined financial
statements of operations, amounted to $172, $106 and $67 for the
years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
7. | INVESTMENTS IN REAL ESTATE PARTNERSHIPS |
Investments in real estate partnerships accounted for using the
equity method are comprised of the following:
December 31, | ||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
TCG Fund I, L.C.(1)
|
$ | | $ | 1,029 | ||||
North Shore Investors, LLC(2)
|
(35 | ) | | |||||
$ | (35 | ) | $ | 1,029 | ||||
(1) | TCG Fund I, L.C. (Fund I) During 2002, the Predecessor had made a $1,000 investment in Fund I. Under the terms of the investment, the Company had a 9.58% member interest in Fund I and a 33.18% interest in the Loan Class of Fund I. Fund I provided funds for real estate projects being developed, managed or built by entities in which the Company had an interest. For the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003 the Company recorded earnings of $135, $120, $120 respectively. The Company received its share of distribution of profits in the amount of $164, $120 and $156 during the year ended December 31, 2005, 2004, 2003 respectively. During September 2005, the fund ceased operations and the Company received its initial investment of $1,000 as a final distribution. |
(2) | Prior to the Companys acquisition of Comstock Service as discussed in Note 1, Comstock Service in 2001 had invested $41 in North Shore Investors, LLC (North Shore) for a 50% ownership interest. North Shore was formed to acquire and develop residential lots and construct single family and |
F-16
townhouse units. In 2002, as a result of recognizing its share of net losses incurred by North Shore, Comstock Service reduced its investment in North Shore, to $0. The Company, as part of the acquisition of Comstock Service on December 17, 2004 recorded this investment in North Shore at $0. |
On June 28, 2005 the Company received a capital call from
North Shore in the amount of $719 so that North Shore may comply
with certain debt repayments. Because the Company may be
obligated to provide future financial support, the Company,
during the twelve months ended December 31, 2005 recorded
its share of losses incurred by North Shore in the accompanying
financial statements in the amount of $35.
During the third quarter of 2005, the Company, as manager of an
affiliated entity, exercised its option rights to purchase the
project acquisition, development and construction loans made for
the benefit of North Shore. The Company finalized the purchase
of the loans on or about September 8, 2005, issued a notice
of default under the acquisition and development loan at
maturity on September 30, 2005 and subsequently filed suit
for collection of the loans against one of the individual
guarantors under the loan on or about October 21, 2005 and
initiated foreclosure proceedings on or about November 18,
2005. On or about December 22, 2005, the individual
guarantor subject to the earlier suit filed a countersuit
against two of the officers of the Company who were also
individual guarantors under the acquisition and development
loan. The Company has set a foreclosure sale for March 23,
2006.
As of December 31, 2005 the Company carried the following
amounts in its financial statements related to North Shore:
Investment in real estate partnerships
|
$ | (35 | ) | |
Due from affiliates
|
$ | 1,272 | ||
Development and construction loan receivable
|
$ | 1,563 |
The Company has evaluated the carrying value of its investment
in and receivables from North Shore. At this time the Company
does not believe an impairment reserve is warranted. However, it
is possible this may change in future periods. In addition,
based on results of negotiations, the Company may, in the future
be required to consolidate the North Shore entity.
The condensed combined balance sheets and the statements of
operations for the real estate property partnerships accounted
for using the equity method are as follows:
Condensed Combined Balance Sheets
December 31, | |||||||||
2005 | 2004 | ||||||||
Real estate held for development and sale
|
$ | 11,263 | $ | 10,556 | |||||
Other assets
|
75 | 4,037 | |||||||
Total assets
|
$ | 11,338 | $ | 14,593 | |||||
Mortgage notes payable
|
$ | 10,921 | $ | 10,659 | |||||
Notes payable to related parties
|
1,547 | 1,432 | |||||||
Other liabilities
|
143 | 181 | |||||||
Total liabilities
|
12,611 | 12,272 | |||||||
Partners capital
|
(1,273 | ) | 2,321 | ||||||
Total liabilities and partners capital
|
$ | 11,338 | $ | 14,593 | |||||
F-17
Condensed Combined Statements of Operations
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | ||||||||||
Revenues
|
$ | 3,920 | $ | 22,157 | $ | 11,349 | ||||||
Operating income (loss)
|
$ | 111 | 4,573 | 1,691 | ||||||||
Other (income) and expense
|
7 | 99 | 21 | |||||||||
Net income (loss)
|
$ | 104 | $ | 4,474 | $ | 1,670 | ||||||
Companys share of net income (loss)
|
$ | 99 | $ | 118 | $ | 139 | ||||||
8. | OTHER ASSETS |
Other assets consist of the following:
December 31, | ||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Contract land deposits
|
$ | 2,825 | $ | 630 | ||||
Restricted escrow deposits
|
1,915 | 776 | ||||||
Prepaid income taxes(1)
|
4,708 | | ||||||
Other
|
1,583 | 1,134 | ||||||
$ | 11,031 | $ | 2,540 | |||||
(1) | Prepaid income taxes represent an overpayment of federal and state income taxes due to lower actual taxable income than originally estimated. The Company expects to apply these overpayments against 2006 taxable income. |
9. | ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities consist of the
following:
December 31, | ||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Trade payables
|
$ | 35,163 | $ | 15,318 | ||||
Warranty
|
1,206 | 916 | ||||||
Customer deposits
|
17,817 | 16,678 | ||||||
Other
|
4,945 | 2,620 | ||||||
$ | 59,131 | $ | 35,532 | |||||
F-18
10. | NOTES PAYABLE |
The Company has outstanding borrowings with various financial
institutions and other lenders which have been used to finance
the acquisition, development, and construction of real estate
property. Notes payable consist of the following:
2005 | 2004 | ||||||||
Notes payable to non-related parties
|
|||||||||
Shared construction and development loans with approximately
$178,499 available to be drawn for planned development
expenditures, with monthly interest payments ranging from prime
+ 0.5% to 16% or 30 day libor + 1.9% to 90 day libor +
3.75% (the prime rate at December 31, 2005 and 2004, was
7.25% and 5.25%, respectively; the 30/90 day libor rate at
December 31, 2005 and 2004, 4.39%/4.54% and 2.40%/2.56%,
respectively)
|
$ | 140,143 | $ | 63,071 | |||||
Interest bearing deferred purchase money deed of trust note
issued in exchange for land, with interest at a rate of 5.39%.
The note matured in December 2005
|
| 1,512 | |||||||
Subordinated second trust loan of $2,500 and $228 with quarterly
interest only payments of 7% and monthly interest only payments
of 14%, respectively. The remaining note matures March 2010. At
December 31, 2005 the accrued interest on the note is $15
|
2,515 | 228 | |||||||
Non-interest bearing deferred purchase money notes issued in
exchange for land
|
336 | 873 | |||||||
142,994 | 65,684 | ||||||||
Notes payable to related parties
|
|||||||||
Subordinated second trust loan of $300 with monthly interest
only payments of 14%. The note was paid in full in April 2005
|
| 300 | |||||||
Note payable of up to $5,000 with quarterly interest only
payments of 12% per annum. The note was paid in full in
June 2005
|
| 2,500 | |||||||
Note payable of $2,400 with monthly interest only payments of
12% per annum maturing in August 2006
|
663 | 2,400 | |||||||
Note payable to TCG Fund I LC, an equity method investee
for a loan up to $4,000 with interest only payments at
12% per annum. The note was paid in full in June 2005. At
December 31, 2004 the accrued interest on the note is $106
|
| 3,323 | |||||||
Note payable to TCG Debt Fund II LC, a related party due to
common ownership, for a loan up to $2,600 with interest only
payments at 12% per annum. The note was paid in full in
November 2005. At December 31, 2004 the accrued interest on
the note is $49
|
| 2,421 | |||||||
$ | 143,657 | $ | 76,628 | ||||||
Maturities with respect to all notes payable as of
December 31, 2005 are as follows:
Years ending December 31, | ||||
2006
|
$ | 24,610 | ||
2007
|
116,533 | |||
2008 and thereafter
|
2,514 | |||
$ | 143,657 | |||
For the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003,
aggregate debt had a weighted average annual effective interest
rate of 9.2%, 6.9%, and 6.6%, respectively.
F-19
Upon settlement of each home or lot, principal is curtailed
based upon a specific release payment to the lender. The loans
are collateralized by first liens on the land held for
development and the construction in progress of the respective
developments. In addition, borrowings at the project entity
level are guaranteed by the Company and in most cases some of
its shareholders. The Company must comply with certain
restrictive covenants, which include maintenance of a total
debt-to-tangible net
worth ratio and a minimum tangible net worth level. As of
December 31, 2005 the Company was in compliance with all
covenants as required.
The second trust loans are collateralized by subordinate liens
on the land held for development and the construction in
progress of the respective developments. These subordinate liens
are subject to inter-creditor agreements with the senior lenders
and are used by the Company to satisfy all or a portion of the
equity requirements of the senior lenders. As such, these
subordinated facilities are considered higher risk investments
and as a result they command premium interest rates.
11. | COMMON STOCK |
As discussed in Note 1, the Company immediately prior to
the IPO as a result of its merger with Comstock Holdings, had
4,333 and 2,734 shares Class A and B Common Stock
outstanding. Class A and B Common Stock shares bear the
same economic rights. However for voting purposes, Class A
stock holders are entitled to one vote for each share held while
Class B stock holders are entitled to fifteen votes for
each share held.
As a result of the IPO, the Company sold 3,960 Class A
shares of Common Stock. The Company also sold an additional
594 shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the
underwriters exercise of their over-allotment option.
On June 22, 2005 the Company completed a follow-on offering
in which 2,360 shares of Class A Common stock were
sold to the public.
During the fourth quarter of 2005 the Companys Board of
Directors authorized a $1,000 share buyback ininative. As
of December 31, 2005 no shares have been repurchased.
12. | RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS |
In June 2002, the Predecessor entered into a promissory note
agreement with TCG Fund I, LC to fund development
projects. TCG Fund I, LC, is a related party in which
the Company has an equity investment. The promissory note
agreement allows for the Company to borrow up to
$4 million. The note bears interest at 12% per annum
and was paid in full during June 2005. As of December 31,
2004 and 2003 the amount owed to TCG Fund I amounted to
approximately $3.3 Million. Accrued interest on this note
totaled $106 and $90 at December 31, 2004 and 2003,
respectively.
In September 2004, the Predecessor entered into a promissory
note agreement with TCG Fund II, LC to fund
development projects. TCG Fund II, LC is a related
party which the company manages as a non-member. The promissory
note agreement allows the Company to borrow up to
$10 million. The note bears interest at 12% per annum
and was paid in full during November 2005. As of
December 31, 2004 the Company owed $2.4 million under
this promissory agreement. Accrued interest on this note totaled
$49 at December 31, 2004.
In April 2002 and January 2004, the Predecessor entered into
lease agreements for approximately 7.7 and 8.8 square feet,
respectively, for its corporate headquarters at
11465 Sunset Hills Road, Reston, Virginia from Comstock
Partners, L.C., an affiliate of our Predecessor in which
executive officers of the Company Christopher Clemente, Gregory
Benson, and others are principals. Christopher Clemente owns a
45% interest, Gregory Benson owns a 5% interest, an entity which
is owned or controlled by Christopher Clementes
father-in-law, Dwight
Schar, owns a 45% interest, and an unrelated third party owns a
5% interest in Comstock Partners. For nine months ended
September 30, 2004, total payments made under this lease
agreement were $231. On September 30, 2004 the lease
agreements were canceled and replaced with new leases for a
total of 20.6 square feet with Comstock Asset Management,
L.C., an entity owned by Christopher Clemente. Total payments
made under this lease agreement were $142 as of
December 31, 2004. On
F-20
August 1, 2005 the lease agreement was amended for an
additional 8.4 square feet. Total payments made under this
lease agreement were $629 as of December 31, 2005.
In May 2003, the Predecessor hired a construction company, in
which Christopher Clementes brother, Louis Clemente,
serves as the President and is a significant shareholder, to
provide construction services and act as a general contractor at
one of the Companys developments. The Company paid
$10,038, $4,352, and $829 to this construction company during
the year ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003,
respectively, to this company.
In May 2003, the Predecessor entered into a lot purchase
agreement to sell 47 developed lots to an entity in which
Christopher Clementes
father-in-law, Dwight
Schar, serves as the chief executive officer and chairman of the
board of directors and is a shareholder. During the year ended
December 31, 2004 and 2003, the Company delivered 30 and 17
lots, respectively, to this entity for $3,910 and $2,193,
respectively.
In December 2003, the Predecessor entered into a $7,000 second
trust loan agreement, accruing interest at 18% per annum,
with Comstock Capital Partners, L.C., a related entity equally
owned by Christopher Clemente and Gregory Benson. Immediately
upon execution, Comstock Capital Partners assigned 100% of the
second trust loan to other parties. An assignment was made
covering $6 million of the principal under the second trust
loan to an entity owned or controlled by Christopher
Clementes
father-in-law, Dwight
Schar, at 15% per annum. At December 31, 2003 the
principal owed was $7,000. Accrued interest at December 31,
2003 amounted to $55. The remaining $1.0 million of
principal under the loan was assigned to an entity controlled by
Scott Kasprowicz who became a related party on June 1, 2004
upon the hiring of his son, Reid Kasprowicz. This
$7,000 second trust loan matured in November 2004 and was
paid in full.
In April 2004, the Predecessor entered into an additional three
year $5,000 promissory note agreement, with an entity
controlled by Scott Kasprowicz, bearing interest at a rate of
12%. Under the terms of the note, the Predecessor was advanced
$2,500 in April 2004 and an additional $2,500 in June 2004.
Due to the a consolidation of The Comstock Companies, the lender
was entitled to a premium of up to 10% of the outstanding
principal balance which was paid December 2004. As of
December 31, 2004 the amount owed to Scott Kasprowicz was
$2,500. Accrued interest and premium at December 31, 2004
totaled $598. This note was paid in full during June 2005.
At December 31, 2004, the Company had an outstanding note
receivable from Investors Management, LLC of $163, which accrues
interest at a rate of 10% per annum. Investors Management,
LLC is a related party, which is owned partially by Christopher
Clemente, Gregory Benson and Bruce Labovitz (executive officers
and/or shareholders of the Company). At December 31, 2004
accrued interest receivable on this note totaled $5. During
February 2005 the Company received payment in full on this note.
Christopher Clementes
mother-in-law, Janice
Schar, and Gary Martin each invested $100 as minority
shareholders in one of our subsidiaries, and Judah and Deborah
Labovitz, the parents of Bruce Labovitz, loaned approximately
$300 to another of our subsidiaries. During the first
quarter 2005, the Company repurchased the minority interests of
Janice Schar and Gary Martin for an approximate purchase price
of $136. In April 2005, the Company paid the $300 loan to
Judah and Deborah Labovitz in full.
During 2003, the Predecessor entered into agreements with
I-Connect, L.C., a company in which Investors Management, LLC
holds a 25% interest, for information technology consulting
services and the right to use certain customized enterprise
software developed with input from the Company. The intellectual
property rights associated with the software solution that was
developed by I-Connect along with any improvements made thereto
by the Company remained the property of I-Connect. During the
years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, the Company
paid $485, $434 and $471, respectively, to I-Connect. Also, in
March 2003, the Predecessor entered into a space sharing
agreement with I-Connect, L.C. to occupy and use
3,342 square feet of office space subleased by I-Connect,
L.C. from a third party in Reston, Virginia. The Predecessor
paid $4 and $40, respectively, under this agreement for the
years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003. On June 24,
2003, the I-Connect, L.C. sublease was assigned to Comstock
Partners, L.C. (as landlord). The space sharing agreement with
I-Connect ended on September 30, 2004.
F-21
At the end of December 31, 2004 and 2003, the Predecessor
received revenue of approximately $3,280 and $2,908,
respectively, by providing administrative and sales support to
Comstock Service Corp., Inc., a related party previously owned
by Christopher Clemente and Gregory Benson. At December 31,
2003 the Company had a receivable of approximately
$2,690 from this entity.
For the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, the
Predecessor received revenue of approximately $0, $157 and $121,
respectively, by providing administrative and sales support to
Loudoun Station a related party in which Christopher Clemente,
Gregory Benson and Christopher Clementes
father-in-law, Dwight
Schar, are shareholders. During March 2005 all members assigned
their membership rights to Greg Benson giving him 100% ownership
of Investors Management.
From October 31, 2003 to December 31, 2003, the
Predecessor granted interest-free loans totaling $38 to an
employee of the Company. As of December 31, 2003 and
June 30, 2004 the employee owed the Company $38 and
$39, respectively. The loan was repaid in July of 2004.
In October 2004, the Predecessor entered into an agreement with
Comstock Asset Management Inc.(CAM), where CAM assigned the
Company first refusal rights to purchase a portion of their
Loudoun Station Properties. In partial consideration for the
performance in which the Company would provide management
services for a fee of $20 a month. For the years ended
December 31, 2005 and 2004 the Company recorded $240 and
$60, respectively, in revenue. At December 31, 2005 and
2004 the Predecessor recorded a receivable for $0 and
$60, respectively, from this entity. In addition, the
Company in November 2004, entered into an agreement with
Comstock Asset Management to sell certain retail condominium
units at Potomac Yard for a total purchase price of $14,500. In
connection with this sale, the Company received a deposit of
$8,000 upon execution of the agreement. The agreement was
modified in 2005, which reduced the deposit amount to $6,000.
During the course of the years ended December 31, 2005 and
2004 the Company provided bookkeeping services to related party
entities at no charge.
In August 2004, the Predecessor entered into a $2,400 promissory
note agreement with Belmont Models I, L.C., an entity
managed by Investors Management. The note bears an interest rate
of 12%, which is payable monthly and matured July 2005. In March
2005, the Company sold four condominium units to Belmont
Models I, L.C. under a sale and leaseback arrangement. The
four condominium units were delivered for a total purchase price
of $2,000 and leased back at a rate of $20 per month. The
Company expects the lease to continue for a period of
twenty-four months. As a result of the deliveries, the
promissory note was reduced by the total purchase price. At
December 31, 2005 and 2004 the Company owed $663 and
$2,400, respectively. Accrued interest payable on this note
totaled $6 and $49, respectively, at December 31, 2005 and
2004.
During 2005 and 2004 the Predecessor entered into sales
contracts to sell homes to certain employees of the Company. The
Company, in order to attract, retain, and motivate employees
maintains a homes ownership benefit program. Under the home
ownership benefits, an employee receives certain cost benefits
provided by us when purchasing a home or having one built by us.
Sales of homes to employees for investment purposes are
conducted at market prices.
In September 2005, Comstock Foundation, Inc., an affiliate, was
created. Comstock Foundation is a not-for-profit organization
organized exclusively for charitable purposes within the meaning
of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The
affairs of Comstock Foundation are managed by a five person
board of directors with Christopher Clemente, Gregory Benson,
Bruce Labovitz and Tracy Schar (employee of the Company and
spouse of Christopher Clemente) being four of the five. The
Company will also provide bookkeeping services to the affiliate.
In October 2005 the Company donated $100 cash and the right
to use 27 units at our Penderbrook condo conversion project
in Fairfax, VA for a period of six months. The Foundation is
providing these units to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The
fair market value of the rental units donated is $237.
F-22
13. | EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS |
The Company maintains a defined contribution retirement savings
plan pursuant to Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue
Code (the Code). Eligible participants may
contribute a portion of their compensation to their respective
retirement accounts in an amount not to exceed the maximum
allowed under the Code. The plan provides for matching Company
contributions at the sole discretion of the board of directors.
The Company and the Predecessor made no contributions to the
plan during the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and
2003.
The Company maintains an Employee Stock Purchase Plan in which
eligible employees have the opportunity to purchase common stock
of the Company at a discounted price of 85% of the fair market
value of the stock on the designated dates of purchase. Under
the terms of the plan, the total fair market value of the common
stock that an eligible employee may purchase each year is
limited to the lesser of 15% of the employees annual
compensation or $12,750. Under the plan, employees of the
Company purchased 7,817 shares of Class A common stock.
14. | RESTRICTED STOCK, STOCK OPTIONS AND OTHER STOCK PLANS |
Effective January 1, 2004, the Company adopted the fair
value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123(R). Prior
to December 14, 2004 the Company did not sponsor any stock
based plans. Accordingly, no stock based compensation was
included for the year ended December 2003.
On December 14, 2004 the Company adopted the 2004 Long-Term
Compensation Plan (The Plan). The plan provides for
the issuance of stock options, stock appreciation rights, or
SARs, restricted stock, deferred stock, dividend equivalents,
bonus stock and awards in lieu of cash compensation, other
stock-based awards and performance awards. Any shares issued
under the Plan vest typically over service periods that range
from one to five years. Stock options issued under the plan
expire 10 years from the date they are granted.
The Plan provided for an initial authorization of
1,550 shares of Class A Common stock for issuance
thereunder, plus an additional annual authorization effective
January 1, 2006 equal to the lesser of (i) 3% of the
Class A Common Stock outstanding on the date of
determination, (ii) 500,000 shares or (iii) such
lesser amount as may be determined by the Companys Board
of Directors.
The following equity awards were outstanding at December 31,
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Stock options
|
213,993 | 107,144 | ||||||
Restricted stock grants
|
273,891 | 275,317 | ||||||
Total outstanding equity awards
|
487,884 | 382,461 |
On December 31, 2005 the following amounts were available
for issuance under the plan:
Shares Available for issuance at December 14, 2004
|
1,550 | |||
Adjustments:
|
||||
Restricted stock grants Issued
|
(275 | ) | ||
Options issued
|
(107 | ) | ||
Shares available for issuance at December 31, 2004
|
1,168 | |||
Adjustments:
|
||||
Restricted stock Grants issued
|
(16 | ) | ||
Options issued
|
(107 | ) | ||
Restricted stock grants forfeited
|
14 | |||
Shares available for issuance at December 31, 2005
|
1,059 |
F-23
The fair value of each option award is calculated on the date of
grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model that uses the
assumptions noted in the following table. Because the Company
does not have sufficient trading history, expected volatilities
are based historical volatilities of comparable companies within
our industry. We estimate forfeitures using a weighted average
historical forfeiture rate. Our estimates of forfeitures will be
adjusted over the requisite service period based on the extent
to which actual forfeitures differ, or are expected to differ,
from their estimate. Due to lack of history, expected lives
based on managements bests estimates at the time of grant.
The risk-free rate for periods is based on the
U.S. Treasury rates in effect at the time of grant.
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Weighted average fair value of options granted
|
$ | 7.61 | $ | 6.58 | ||||
Dividend yields
|
N/A | N/A | ||||||
Expected volatility
|
41-48 | % | 48 | % | ||||
Weighted average expected volatility
|
45 | % | 48 | % | ||||
Risk free interest rates
|
3.56- 3.63 | % | 3.35 | % | ||||
Weighted average expected lives (in years)
|
2.5 | 4 |
The following table summarizes information about stock options
activity:
Weighted | ||||||||
Average | ||||||||
Shares | Exercise Price | |||||||
Outstanding at December 14, 2004
|
| | ||||||
Granted
|
107,144 | $ | 16.00 | |||||
Outstanding at December 31, 2004
|
107,144 | 16.00 | ||||||
Granted
|
106,849 | 23.90 | ||||||
Exercised
|
| | ||||||
Forfeited or expired
|
| | ||||||
Outstanding at December 31, 2005
|
213,993 | $ | 19.94 | |||||
Exercisable at December 31, 2005
|
| $ | | |||||
At December 31, 2005 there were no options which were fully
vested.
A summary of the Companys restricted share activity is
presented below:
Weighted average fair | ||||||||
Shares | value at date of grant | |||||||
Restricted shares outstanding at December 14, 2004
|
| | ||||||
Granted
|
275,317 | $ | 16.00 | |||||
Restricted shares outstanding at December 31, 2004
|
275,317 | 16.00 | ||||||
Granted
|
16,188 | 24.55 | ||||||
Vested
|
(4,068 | ) | 18.12 | |||||
Forfeited
|
(13,545 | ) | 16.28 | |||||
Restricted shares outstanding at December 31, 2005
|
273,891 | $ | 16.46 | |||||
As of December 31, 2005, there was $2,548 of total
unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested restricted
stock issuances granted under the Plan. This cost is expected to
be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.6 years.
Total compensation expense for share based payment arrangements
for the year ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 was $2,322
and $101 respectively, of which $407 and $0 was capitalized to
real estate held for development and sale. The total deferred
tax benefit related to stock compensation, recorded on the
balance sheet as of December 31, 2005 and 2004 amounted to
$790 and $39 respectively.
F-24
The Company intends to issue new shares of its common stock upon
vesting of restricted stock grants or the exercise of stock
options.
15. | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
Litigation |
As manager of an affiliated entity, we exercised our option
rights to purchase the project acquisition, development and
construction loans made for the benefit of North Shore project
located in Raleigh, North Carolina. We subsequently issued a
notice of default under the acquisition and development loan at
maturity on September 30, 2005 and thereafter filed suit
for collection of the loans against one of the individual
guarantors under the loan on or about October 21, 2005 for
a claim amount of $1.8 million as of the date of the
filing. The Company finalized the purchase of the loans on or
about September 8, 2005, issued a notice of default under
the acquisition and development loan at maturity on
September 30, 2005 and subsequently filed suit for
collection of the loans against one of the individual guarantors
under the loan on or about October 21, 2005 and initiated
foreclosure proceedings on or about November 18, 2005. On
or about December 22, 2005, the individual guarantor
subject to the earlier suit filed a countersuit against two of
the officers of the Company who were also individual guarantors
under loans. The Company has set a foreclosure sale for
March 23, 2006.
On August 11, 2005, the Company was served with a motion to
compel arbitration resulting from an allegation of a loan
brokerage fee being owed for placement of a $147.0 million
project loan for the Potomac Yard project. The claim in the base
amount of $2.0 million plus interest and costs is based on
breach of contract and equitable remedies of unjust enrichment
and quantum meruit. The Company has denied the claims.
Other than the foregoing, we are not currently subject to any
material legal proceedings. From time to time, however, we are
named as a defendant in legal actions arising from our normal
business activities. Although we cannot accurately predict the
amount of our liability, if any, that could arise with respect
to legal actions currently pending against us, we do not expect
that any such liability will have a material adverse effect on
our financial position, operating results or cash flows.
We believe that we have obtained adequate insurance coverage or
rights to indemnification, or where appropriate, have
established reserves in connection with these legal proceedings.
Lot purchase agreements |
On December 26, 2001, the Predecessor entered into a
purchase commitment agreement to purchase developed residential
lots. The purchase commitment agreement provides for fixed
purchase prices per lot subject to escalation throughout the
build-out period for each project. At December 31, 2005,
the Company had commitments to purchase seventeen lots at an
average minimum purchase price of approximately $20 per
lot, under non-specific performance agreements.
Letters of credit and performance bonds |
The Company has commitments as a result of contracts entered
into with certain third parties to meet certain performance
criteria as outlined in such contracts. The Company is required
to issue letters of credit and performance bonds to these third
parties as a way of ensuring that such commitments entered into
are met by the Company. At December 31, 2005, the Company
has issued $5,042 in letters of credit and $16,670 in
performance and payment bonds to these third parties. No amounts
have been drawn against these letters of credit and performance
bonds.
F-25
Operating leases |
The Company leases office space under non-cancelable operating
leases. Minimum annual lease payments under these leases at
December 31, 2005 approximate:
Year Ended: | Amount | |||
2006
|
$ | 978 | ||
2007
|
1,029 | |||
2008
|
1,030 | |||
2009
|
850 | |||
2010
|
109 | |||
Thereafter
|
0 | |||
Total
|
$ | 3,996 | ||
Operating lease rental expense aggregated $728 and $347,
respectively, for years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004.
16. | FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS |
The carrying amounts reported in the combined consolidated
balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts
receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities and floating
rate debt approximate fair value.
The carrying amount and fair value of fixed rate debt at
December 31, 2004 and 2003 were as follows:
December 31, | ||||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Carrying amount
|
$ | 31,609 | $ | 11,172 | ||||
Fair value
|
$ | 36,233 | $ | 12,789 |
Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based
on relevant market information about the financial instruments.
These estimates are subjective in nature and involve
uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and therefore,
cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions
could significantly affect the estimates.
17. | INCOME TAXES |
Prior to December 17, 2004 the Predecessor had elected to
be treated as an S corporation under Subchapter S of
the Internal Revenue Code and therefore was not subject to
income taxes. Taxable income or loss was passed through and
reported by the individual shareholders. Subsequent to the
consolidation the company was reorganized as a
C corporation under which income taxes are accounted for
under the asset and liability method in accordance with
SFAS 109 Accounting for Income Taxes.
Income Tax provision consists of the following as of
December 31,:
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Current:
|
||||||||
Federal
|
$ | 15,160 | $ | 242 | ||||
State
|
2,885 | 48 | ||||||
18,045 | 290 | |||||||
Deferred:
|
||||||||
Federal
|
(1,417 | ) | (472 | ) | ||||
State
|
(262 | ) | (59 | ) | ||||
(1,679 | ) | (531 | ) | |||||
Total Income Tax Expense
|
$ | 16,366 | $ | (241 | ) | |||
F-26
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary
differences between the carrying amounts of assets and
liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts
used for income tax purposes. Components of the Companys
deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2005
and 2004 were as follows:
2005 | 2004 | ||||||||
Deferred tax assets:
|
|||||||||
Inventory
|
$ | 2,246 | $ | 2,067 | |||||
Warranty
|
417 | 293 | |||||||
Deferred rent
|
27 | 8 | |||||||
Accrued expenses
|
73 | 96 | |||||||
Stock based compensation
|
790 | 39 | |||||||
3,552 | 2,503 | ||||||||
Less valuation allowance
|
(840 | ) | (1,508 | ) | |||||
Net deferred tax assets
|
2,712 | 995 | |||||||
Deferred tax liabilities:
|
|||||||||
Investment in Affiliates
|
(8 | ) | | ||||||
Depreciation and amortization
|
(159 | ) | (174 | ) | |||||
Net deferred tax liabilities
|
(167 | ) | (174 | ) | |||||
Net deferred tax assets
|
$ | 2,545 | $ | 821 | |||||
The Company has adequately provided for contingencies related to
income taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 5. At
December 31, 2005 and 2004, the Company recorded $802 and
$68, respectively in income tax reserves. This tax reserve
relates predominately to a potential dispute by taxing
authorities over tax benefits resulting from additional income
tax basis in certain residential housing development projects.
The Company has also determined that a valuation allowance of
approximately $840 and $1,508 as of December 31, 2005 and
2004 respectively related to a deferred tax asset of
approximately $840 and $1,508 resulting from additional tax
basis in residential real estate development projects. In
analyzing the need for the provision of tax contingency reserves
and the valuation allowance, management reviewed applicable
statutes, rules, regulations and interpretations and established
these reserves based on past experiences and judgments about
potential actions by taxing jurisdictions.
A reconciliation of the statutory rate and the effective tax
rate follows:
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
Statutory Rate
|
35.00 | % | 34.00 | % | ||||
Income attributable to period during which the Predecessor was
under S Corporation status
|
0.00 | % | (37.19 | )% | ||||
State income taxes net of federal benefit
|
3.95 | % | 4.26 | % | ||||
Permanent differences
|
(1.75 | )% | 0.02 | % | ||||
Change in effective tax rate
|
(0.03 | )% | ||||||
Tax reserve
|
1.67 | % | 0.35 | % | ||||
Deferred tax assets resulting from a change in tax status, net
|
0.00 | % | (10.96 | )% | ||||
Change in valuation allowance
|
(1.58 | )% | 7.81 | % | ||||
37.26 | % | (1.71 | )% | |||||
F-27
18. | QUARTERLY RESULTS (unaudited) |
Quarterly results for the years ended December 31, 2005 and
2004 follow (in thousands, except per share amounts):
Three months ended | ||||||||||||||||
March 31, | June 30, | September 30, | December 31, | |||||||||||||
2005 | 2005 | 2005 | 2005 | |||||||||||||
Revenues
|
$ | 28,729 | $ | 39,911 | $ | 78,437 | $ | 77,228 | ||||||||
Operating income
|
6,075 | 4,636 | 17,919 | 13,779 | ||||||||||||
Pretax income
|
6,140 | 4,787 | 18,424 | 14,578 | ||||||||||||
Net Income
|
3,809 | 3,066 | 11,483 | 9,204 | ||||||||||||
Basic earnings per share
|
0.33 | 0.26 | 0.82 | 0.66 | ||||||||||||
Diluted earnings per share
|
0.32 | 0.26 | 0.81 | 0.65 |
Three months ended | ||||||||||||||||
March 31, | June 30, | September 30, | December 31, | |||||||||||||
2004 | 2004 | 2004 | 2004 | |||||||||||||
Revenues
|
$ | 17,881 | $ | 30,947 | $ | 25,739 | $ | 21,478 | ||||||||
Operating income
|
3,110 | 4,553 | 7,503 | 4,946 | ||||||||||||
Pretax income
|
2,106 | 3,002 | 5,508 | 3,446 | ||||||||||||
Net Income
|
2,106 | 3,002 | 5,508 | 3,687 | ||||||||||||
Basic earnings per share
|
0.30 | 0.42 | 0.78 | 0.45 | ||||||||||||
Diluted earnings per share
|
0.30 | 0.42 | 0.78 | 0.45 |
Quarterly and year-to-date computations of per share amounts are
made independently. Therefore, the sum of per share amounts for
the quarters may not agree with per share amounts for the year.
19. | SUBSEQUENT EVENTS |
On January 19, 2006 the Company acquired all of the issued
and outstanding shares of capital stock of Parker-Chandler
Homes, Inc. Pursuant to the purchase agreement, the Company paid
$10 million in cash, and paid off approximately
$12.3 million in indebtedness and other obligations of PCH,
and assumed approximately $45.9 million of indebtedness of
PCH in consideration for the stock of PCH. Also in accordance
with the terms of the purchase agreement, the Company granted,
pursuant to its existing long-term incentive compensation plan,
an aggregate of 214,286 shares of restricted stock of the
Company to two of the Sellers, subject to vesting over a
two-year period based on such Sellers continued employment
with the Company and the settlement by PCH and its subsidiaries
of a specified number of homes during that period.
On January 31, 2006 the Company, via its wholly owned
subsidiary, Comstock Carter Lake, L.C., purchased a
259-apartment unit property to be converted to condominiums for
a purchase price of approximately $36.2 million. In
conjunction with the purchase the Company, via its wholly owned
subsidiary, Comstock Carter Lake, L.C., entered into a loan
agreement, for approximately $26 million to acquire the
condominium conversion project in Reston, Virginia called Carter
Lake. Under the loan agreement, the Company is a guarantor of
the subsidiaries obligations.
F-28
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized.
COMSTOCK HOMEBUILDING COMPANIES, INC. |
Date: March 15, 2006
By: | /s/ Christopher Clemente |
|
|
Christopher Clemente | |
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons
on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the
date indicated.
On March 15, 2006, we, the undersigned officers and
directors of Comstock Homebuilding Companies, Inc., hereby,
severally and individually, constitute and appoint Christopher
Clemente and Bruce J. Labovitz, the true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents (with full power of substitution in
each case) of each of us to execute, in the name, place and
stead of each of us (individually and in any capacity stated
below), any and all amendments to this Annual Report on
Form 10-K and all
instruments necessary or advisable in connection therewith, and
to file the same with the SEC, said attorneys-in-fact and agents
to have power to act and to have full power and authority to do
and perform, in the name and on behalf of each of the
undersigned, every act whatsoever necessary or advisable to be
done in the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as
any of the undersigned might or could do in person and we hereby
ratify and confirm our signatures as they may be signed by or
said attorneys-in-fact and agents to any and all such amendments
and instruments.
Signature | Capacity | Date | ||||
/s/ Christopher
Clemente Christopher Clemente |
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | March 15, 2006 | ||||
/s/ Gregory V. Benson Gregory V. Benson |
President, Chief Operating Officer and Director | March 15, 2006 | ||||
/s/ Bruce J. Labovitz Bruce J. Labovitz |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | March 15, 2006 | ||||
/s/ Jason Parikh Jason Parikh |
Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) | March 15, 2006 | ||||
/s/ A. Clayton Perfall A. Clayton Perfall |
Director | March 15, 2006 | ||||
/s/ David M. Guernsey David M. Guernsey |
Director | March 15, 2006 | ||||
/s/ James A.
MacCutcheon James A. MacCutcheon |
Director | March 15, 2006 | ||||
/s/ Norman D. Chirite Norman D. Chirite |
Director | March 15, 2006 |
Signature | Capacity | Date | ||||
Robert P. Pincus |
Director | |||||
/s/ Socrates Verses Socrates Verses |
Director | March 15, 2006 |
Exhibit | ||||
Number | Exhibit | |||
3 | .1(2) | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation | ||
3 | .2(2) | Amended and Restated Bylaws | ||
4 | .1(1) | Specimen Stock Certificate | ||
10 | .1(1) | Lease Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2004, with Comstock Partners, L.C. | ||
10 | .2(1) | Agreement of Sublease, dated as of October 1, 2004, with Comstock Asset Management, L.C. | ||
10 | .3(1) | Loan Agreement, dated December 17, 1997, as amended, with Bank of America, N.A. | ||
10 | .4(1) | Disbursement and Construction Loan Agreement and Disbursement and Development Loan Agreement, each dated October 10, 2002 and as amended, with Branch Banking and Trust Company of Virginia | ||
10 | .5(1) | Disbursement and Construction Loan Agreement and Acquisition, Disbursement and Development Loan Agreement, each dated July 25, 2003, with Branch Banking and Trust Company of Virginia | ||
10 | .6(2) | Loan Agreement, dated January 25, 2005, with Corus Bank, N.A. | ||
10 | .7(2) | Completion Guaranty, dated January 25, 2005 in favor of Corus Bank, N.A. | ||
10 | .8(2) | Carve-Out Guaranty, dated January 25, 2005, in favor of Corus Bank, N.A. | ||
10 | .9(1) | Form of Indemnification Agreement | ||
10 | .10(1) | Form of Promissory Note to be issued to each of Christopher Clemente, Gregory Benson, James Keena and Lawrence Golub by each of Comstock Holding Company, Inc., Comstock Homes, Inc., Sunset Investment Corp., Inc. and Comstock Service Corp., Inc. | ||
10 | .11(1) | Form of Tax Indemnification Agreement to be entered into by each of Christopher Clemente, Gregory Benson, James Keena and Lawrence Golub with each of Comstock Holding Company, Inc., Comstock Homes, Inc., Sunset Investment Corp., Inc. and Comstock Service Corp., Inc. | ||
10 | .12(1) | 2004 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan | ||
10 | .13(1) | Form of Stock Option Agreement under the 2004 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan | ||
10 | .14(2) | Form of Restricted Stock Grant Agreement under the 2004 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan | ||
10 | .15(1) | Employee Stock Purchase Plan | ||
10 | .16(1) | Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of April 25, 2003, as amended, with Crescent Potomac Yard Development, LLC | ||
10 | .17(2) | Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of November 9, 2004, as amended, with Fair Oaks Penderbrook Apartments L.L.C. | ||
10 | .18(2) | Real Estate Purchase Contract, dated as of February 4, 2005, with Westwick Apartments LLC | ||
10 | .19(2) | Services Agreement, dated March 4, 2005, with Comstock Asset Management, L.C. | ||
10 | .20(1) | Employment Agreement with Christopher Clemente | ||
10 | .21(1) | Employment Agreement with Gregory Benson | ||
10 | .22(1) | Employment Agreement with Bruce Labovitz | ||
10 | .23(1) | Confidentiality and Non-Competition Agreement with Christopher Clemente | ||
10 | .24(1) | Confidentiality and Non-Competition Agreement with Gregory Benson | ||
10 | .25(1) | Confidentiality and Non-Competition Agreement with Bruce Labovitz | ||
10 | .26(2) | Description of Arrangements with William Bensten | ||
10 | .27(2) | Description of Arrangements with David Howell | ||
10 | .28(1) | Trademark License Agreement | ||
10 | .29(2) | Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2004 with Comstock Asset Management, L.C. | ||
10 | .30(3) | Agreement of Purchase and Sale, dated June 23, 2005, by and between Comstock Carter Lake, L.C. and E.R. Carter, L.L.C. | ||
10 | .31(3) | Agreement of Purchase and Sale, dated September 28, 2005, by and between Comstock Bellemeade, L.C. and Bellemeade Farms Investors, LLC et. al. | ||
10 | .32(3) | Loan Agreement, dated September 28, 2005, by and between Comstock Bellemeade, L.C. and Bank of America, N.A. |
Exhibit | ||||
Number | Exhibit | |||
10 | .33(3) | Guaranty Agreement, dated September 28, 2005, by the Registrant in favor of Bank of America, N.A. | ||
10 | .34(4) | Life Insurance Reimbursement Agreement with William P. Bensten | ||
10 | .35(4) | Life Insurance Reimbursement Agreement with Bruce Labovitz | ||
10 | .36(4) | Description of Reimbursement and Indemnification Arrangement with Christopher Clemente and Gregory Benson | ||
10 | .37(3) | Agreement of Purchase and Sale, dated June 23, 2005, by and between Comstock Carter Lake, L.C. and E.R. Carter, L.L.C. | ||
10 | .38* | Stock Purchase Agreement with Parker-Chandler Homes, Inc. and the Selling Stockholders identified therein, dated as of January 19, 2006 | ||
10 | .39* | Loan Agreement, dated January 31, 2006, by and between Comstock Carter Lake, L.C. and Bank of America, N.A. | ||
10 | .40* | Guaranty Agreement, dated January 31, 2006m by the Registrant in favor of Bank of America, N.A. | ||
14 | .1(2) | Code of Ethics | ||
21 | .1* | List of subsidiaries | ||
23 | .1* | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP | ||
24 | .1 | Power of Attorney (see signature page to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.) | ||
31 | .1* | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | ||
31 | .2* | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | ||
32 | .1* | Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
* | Filed herewith. |
(1) | Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registrants Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Commission on August 13, 2004 (No. 333-118193). |
(2) | Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registrants Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on March 31, 2005. |
(3) | Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registrants Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on November 14, 2005. |
(4) | Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registrants Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on August 9, 2005. |